Barry England
Barry England is a British writer and playwright, born in 1932 in London. He began his career in the British Army at the age of eighteen, serving in the First Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment in the Far East, where he achieved the rank of lieutenant. After a brief period in acting, where he participated in various stage productions and smaller film roles, England shifted his focus to writing in 1961, pursuing a career as a freelance author of novels, plays, and dramas. His debut novel, "Figures in a Landscape," published in 1969, received the Authors Club First Novel Award, marking the beginning of his recognition in the literary world. England’s works are characterized by their psychological depth and often explore themes related to warfare. Both "Figures in a Landscape" and his play "Conduct Unbecoming" garnered critical acclaim and were adapted into feature films, solidifying his reputation as a significant figure in contemporary literature. His plays and novels have been staged and published in both the United States and Great Britain, reflecting his broad appeal and impact on the literary landscape.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Barry England
Writer
- Born: March 16, 1932
- Birthplace: London, England
- Died: May 21, 2009
Biography
Born in 1932 as the son of a doctor, Barry England grew up in London and joined the British Army when he was eighteen. He became part of the First Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment in the Far East and eventually ascended to the rank of lieutenant in his two years there. A brief stint as an actor followed, and he had both large parts in stage productions and smaller roles in film and television that allowed him to, as he would later put it, “discover the technical problems facing an actor.” In 1961 England decided instead to devote his life to writing freelance novels, plays, and dramas. In 1969, his first novel, Figures in a Landscape, was awarded the Authors Club First Novel Award. England saw the novel’s success as an opportunity to carve out his niche. Both it and his play Conduct Unbecoming enjoyed such rave reviews that they were subsequently produced as feature films. His plays and novels, which have debuted in both the United States and in Great Britain, are noted for their intense psychological angles and for their wartime settings.