William John Locke
Encyclopedia
William John Locke was a novelist and playwright, born in Cunningsbury St George, Christ Church, Demerara, British Guyana on the 20 March 1863, the elder son of John Locke, Bank Manager, of Barbados, and his first wife, Sarah Elizabeth. His parents were English. In 1864 his family moved to Trinidad and Tobago. In 1865, a second son was born, Charlie A Locke who was eventually to become a doctor.
At the age of 3, W J Locke, was sent to England for further education. He remained in England for nine years, before returning to Trinidad to attend prep school at Queen's Royal College, Trinidad where he won an exhibition to St John's College, Cambridge
. He returned to England in 1881 to attend Cambridge University, where he graduated with honours in Mathematics in 1884, despite his dislike of that 'utterly futile and inhuman subject'.
After leaving Cambridge, Locke became a schoolmaster. He disliked teaching, but is known to have been a master at the Oxford Military College
at Temple Cowley in 1889 and 1890 and at Clifton College Bristol, in 1890; from 1891 to 1897 he was modern languages master at Trinity College, Glenalmond. In 1893 he published a school edition of Murat, an extract from the Crimes celebres of Alexandre Dumaspere (1803–1870). In 1890 he became seriously ill with tuberculous, which affected him for the rest of his life.From 1897 to 1907 he was secretary of the Royal Institute of British Architects
and lived in London.
In 1894 he published his first novel, At the Gate of Samaria, but he did not achieve real success for another decade, with The Morals of Marcus Ordeyne (1905) and The Beloved Vagabond (1906). Chambers Biographical Dictionary
wrote of his "long series of novels and plays which with their charmingly written sentimental themes had such a success during his life in both Britain and America... His plays, some of which were dramatised versions of his novels, were all produced with success on the London Stage" (p. 836).
Five times Locke's books made the list of best-selling novels in the United States for the year as determined by the New York Times. His works have been made into twenty-four motion pictures the most recent of which was Ladies in Lavender
, filmed in 2004 and starring Dame Judi Dench
and Maggie Smith
. Adapted to the screen by Charles Dance
, it was based on Locke's 1916 short story of the same title that had been published in a collection entitled "Faraway Stories." Probably the most famous of Locke's books adapted to the screen was the 1918 Pickford Film Corporation production of Stella Maris
starring Mary Pickford
. In addition, four of his books were made into Broadway plays, two of which Locke wrote and were produced by Charles Frohman
.
Locke died of cancer at 34 rue Desbordes Valmore, Paris, France on 15 May 1930.
At the age of 3, W J Locke, was sent to England for further education. He remained in England for nine years, before returning to Trinidad to attend prep school at Queen's Royal College, Trinidad where he won an exhibition to St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college's alumni include nine Nobel Prize winners, six Prime Ministers, three archbishops, at least two princes, and three Saints....
. He returned to England in 1881 to attend Cambridge University, where he graduated with honours in Mathematics in 1884, despite his dislike of that 'utterly futile and inhuman subject'.
After leaving Cambridge, Locke became a schoolmaster. He disliked teaching, but is known to have been a master at the Oxford Military College
Oxford Military College
Oxford Military College was an all-male private boarding school and military academy in Cowley, Oxford, England, from 1876–1896. The military college opened on 7 September 1876. Prince George, Duke of Cambridge was the patron of the Oxford Military College....
at Temple Cowley in 1889 and 1890 and at Clifton College Bristol, in 1890; from 1891 to 1897 he was modern languages master at Trinity College, Glenalmond. In 1893 he published a school edition of Murat, an extract from the Crimes celebres of Alexandre Dumaspere (1803–1870). In 1890 he became seriously ill with tuberculous, which affected him for the rest of his life.From 1897 to 1907 he was secretary of the Royal Institute of British Architects
Royal Institute of British Architects
The Royal Institute of British Architects is a professional body for architects primarily in the United Kingdom, but also internationally.-History:...
and lived in London.
In 1894 he published his first novel, At the Gate of Samaria, but he did not achieve real success for another decade, with The Morals of Marcus Ordeyne (1905) and The Beloved Vagabond (1906). Chambers Biographical Dictionary
Chamber's Biographical Dictionary
Chambers Biographical Dictionary was first published in 1897.The centenary edition was edited by Melanie Parry and the revised edition was edited by J O Thorne and T C Collocott....
wrote of his "long series of novels and plays which with their charmingly written sentimental themes had such a success during his life in both Britain and America... His plays, some of which were dramatised versions of his novels, were all produced with success on the London Stage" (p. 836).
Five times Locke's books made the list of best-selling novels in the United States for the year as determined by the New York Times. His works have been made into twenty-four motion pictures the most recent of which was Ladies in Lavender
Ladies in Lavender
The film's original music was written by Nigel Hess and performed by Joshua Bell and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Hess received a Classical BRIT Awards nomination for Best Soundtrack Composer....
, filmed in 2004 and starring Dame Judi Dench
Judi Dench
Dame Judith Olivia "Judi" Dench, CH, DBE, FRSA is an English film, stage and television actress.Dench made her professional debut in 1957 with the Old Vic Company. Over the following few years she played in several of William Shakespeare's plays in such roles as Ophelia in Hamlet, Juliet in Romeo...
and Maggie Smith
Maggie Smith
Dame Margaret Natalie Smith, DBE , better known as Maggie Smith, is an English film, stage, and television actress who made her stage debut in 1952 and is still performing after 59 years...
. Adapted to the screen by Charles Dance
Charles Dance
Walter Charles Dance, OBE is an English actor, screenwriter and director. Dance typically plays assertive bureaucrats or villains. His most famous roles are Guy Perron in The Jewel in the Crown , Dr Clemens, the doctor of penitentiary Fury 161, who becomes Ellen Ripley's confidante in Alien 3 ,...
, it was based on Locke's 1916 short story of the same title that had been published in a collection entitled "Faraway Stories." Probably the most famous of Locke's books adapted to the screen was the 1918 Pickford Film Corporation production of Stella Maris
Stella Maris (1918 film)
Stella Maris is a 1918 silent film directed by Marshall Neilan, written by Frances Marion and based on William J. Locke's novel. The film was remade in 1925, with Mary Philbin in the title role.-Plot:...
starring Mary Pickford
Mary Pickford
Mary Pickford was a Canadian-born motion picture actress, co-founder of the film studio United Artists and one of the original 36 founders of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences...
. In addition, four of his books were made into Broadway plays, two of which Locke wrote and were produced by Charles Frohman
Charles Frohman
Charles Frohman was an American theatrical producer. Frohman was producing plays by 1889 and acquired his first Broadway theatre by 1892. He discovered and promoted many stars of the American theatre....
.
Locke died of cancer at 34 rue Desbordes Valmore, Paris, France on 15 May 1930.
External links
- Works by William John Locke at Internet ArchiveInternet ArchiveThe Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It offers permanent storage and access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, music, moving images, and nearly 3 million public domain books. The Internet Archive...
at Google Books