Richard Hughes
Richard Arthur Warren Hughes was a notable English writer recognized for his impactful contributions to literature, particularly through his novels. Born on April 19, 1900, in Weybridge, England, to Welsh parents, Hughes was educated at Charterhouse School and Oriel College, Oxford. His literary career spanned various genres, including plays, short stories, poetry, and novels; however, he gained the most acclaim for his novels. One of his early successes, "A High Wind in Jamaica" (also known as "The Innocent Voyage"), was praised for its imaginative narrative and insightful portrayal of children's perspectives.
Hughes's 1922 play "The Sisters' Tragedy" received high praise from contemporaries, including George Bernard Shaw, who lauded it as an exceptional one-act play. In addition to his novels, Hughes wrote children's literature, with works like "The Spider's Palace" and "Don't Blame Me!" reflecting his versatility. His literary output, though not extensive, earned him significant critical recognition, particularly for his stylistic finesse and deep psychological insights into character. Hughes passed away in Wales shortly after his seventy-sixth birthday, leaving behind a legacy of influential literary works.
Richard Hughes
British fiction writer, poet, and playwright
- Born: April 19, 1900
- Birthplace: Weybridge, Surrey, England
- Died: April 28, 1976
- Place of death: Near Harlech, Gwynedd, Wales
Biography
Though his reputation is limited to a small public, Richard Arthur Warren Hughes had considerable critical success with his small output of books. A writer of plays, short stories, poems, and novels, his distinction is based mainly on his novels. Critics almost unanimously acclaimed his stylistic skills and his portrayal of the underpinnings of character.
Born of Welsh parentage in Weybridge, England, April 19, 1900, Hughes was educated at Charterhouse School and Oriel College, Oxford University. While still at Oxford, he traveled widely in Europe. When The Sisters’ Tragedy was produced, George Bernard Shaw called it “the finest one-act play ever written.” Published in England as A High Wind in Jamaica, The Innocent Voyage drew praise from critics for its adroit handling of melodrama, its imaginative power, and its grasp of the child’s mentality. In 1943, a dramatic version was produced on Broadway, with little success.
After The Innocent Voyage, Hughes concentrated on fiction. His story “In Hazard” was compared favorably with another depiction of a storm at sea, Joseph Conrad’s Typhoon (1903). Two volumes of his short stories for children were well received: The Spider’s Palace and Don’t Blame Me! Hughes died in Wales shortly after his seventy-sixth birthday.
Author Works
Long Fiction:
A High Wind in Jamaica, 1929 (also known as The Innocent Voyage)
In Hazard, 1938
The Fox in the Attic, 1961 (volume 1 of The Human Predicament)
Gertrude’s Child, 1966
The Wooden Shepherdess, 1973 (volume 2 of The Human Predicament)
Short Fiction:
A Moment of Time, 1926
In the Lap of Atlas, 1979
Drama:
The Sisters’ Tragedy, pr., pb. 1922
The Sisters’ Tragedy, and Three Other Plays, pb. 1924 (also pb. as A Rabbit and a Leg, 1924 and Plays, 1966)
Poetry:
Gipsy-Night, and Other Poems, 1922
Confessio Juvenis, 1926
Children’s/Young Adult Literature:
The Spider’s Palace, 1931
Don’t Blame Me!, 1940
The Wonder-Dog, 1977
Nonfiction:
Fiction as Truth: Selected Literary Writings, 1984 (Richard Poole, editor)
Bibliography
Graves, Richard Perceval. Richard Hughes: A Biography. London: A. Deutsch, 1994. Includes bibliographical references and an index.
Hughes, Penelope. Richard Hughes: Author, Father. Gloucester, England: A. Sutton, 1984. A charming set of memories of her father that quotes extensively from letters and anecdotes. Also contains photographs and some of Hughes’s drawings.
Morgan, Paul. The Art of Richard Hughes: A Study of the Novels. Cardiff: University of Wales Press, 1993. A critical study. Includes a bibliography and an index.
Poole, Richard. Richard Hughes: Novelist. Chester Springs, Pa.: Dufour Editions, 1986. A systematic study. The first part deals with biography, the second with his novels and theoretical thinking. Contains a useful bibliography of Hughes’s own writing.
Savage, D. S. “Richard Hughes, Solipsist.” The Anglo-Welsh Review 68 (1981). A substantial article.
Thomas, Peter. Richard Hughes. Cardiff: University of Wales, 1974. A straightforward critical study emphasizing Hughes’s ability to go against received opinions and fashions.