Clifford Hanley
Clifford Hanley was a Scottish writer born on October 28, 1922, in Glasgow, the youngest of eight children in a family with diverse linguistic influences. Raised in a working-class environment, he developed a passion for writing early on, becoming a reporter in 1941. Hanley, who claimed conscientious objector status during World War II, later transitioned to a columnist role, gaining recognition for his work in publications like the Daily Record and TV Guide. His literary career flourished after the success of his autobiography, *Dancing in the Streets*, which led to the publication of his comic novel *Love From Everybody*.
In addition to his novels, Hanley wrote screenplays, including one that won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Documentary. He also penned a series of thrillers under the pseudonym Henry Calvin and produced an impressive volume of written work, contributing significantly to Scottish culture, including the lyrics for "Scotland the Brave." Hanley passed away on August 8, 1999, leaving behind a legacy as a prolific and versatile writer, survived by his wife and three children.
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Clifford Hanley
Writer
- Born: October 28, 1922
- Birthplace: Glasgow, Scotland
- Died: August 8, 1999
Biography
Clifford Hanley was born October 28, 1922, in Glasgow, Scotland. He was the youngest of eight children born to Henry and Martha Hanley. Henry had moved to Scotland from Dublin and Hanley’s mother had come from Tiree in the Inner Hebrides. Hanley recalled being exposed to many different languages in his youth, ranging from the King’s English in his grammar school to dialectic Scottish at home and the gutter language of the streets. Hanley credited this upbringing with some of his skill in writing dialogue.
Hanley attended schools in Scotland. He knew from an early age that he wanted to be a writer and could not remember wanting to work in any other field. After graduation, Hanley got his first job as a reporter in 1941 joining the Scottish Newspaper Services. Hanley did not serve in World War II, claiming conscientious objector status. Hanley had grown up in a conservative working-class family, but as he grew up, he flirted with socialism and later joined the Independent Labour Party.
After the war, Hanley switched from being a reporter to writing as a columnist for the Daily Record. He worked simultaneously on stage plays and a comedic radio show that made his name familiar to Scotland. In 1948, Hanley wed Anna Easton Clark. Hanley became a Scottish columnist for TV Guide in 1957 and moved to columnist at the Evening Citizen the following year.
In the same year, Hanley published a humorous account of his childhood memories, Dancing in the Streets. The book was immediately successful and allowed Hanley to publish Love From Everybody, a comic novel in which the protagonist, a travel agent, finds that several women around the world, whom he had given keys to, are all coming to visit him at the same time. The novel had been written prior to Dancing in the Streets, but appeared after the publication of the autobiography.
The income from his autobiography and from the film sale of Love From Everybody allowed Hanley to retire from the newspaper business and begin writing full-time. His broad spectrum of interests began to show in his work. He worked as a columnist for the Spectator, and indulged his interest in television as a critic and in film as a director. He wrote the screenplay for Seawards the Great Ships, which received the 1960 Academy Award for Best Foreign Documentary
Hanley wrote a series of thrillers under the name Henry Calvin. He was a prolific writer, producing over four thousand words a day. This allowed him to publish several books a year on many different subjects.
While Hanley is best known for his novels, in Scotland, he is also remembered for his national contribution. Hanley wrote the song lyrics for “Scotland the Brave,” which has become one of his homeland’s unofficial national anthems. He passed away on August 8, 1999. He was survived by his wife, Anna, and their three children.