Charlotte Franken Haldane
Charlotte Franken Haldane was an accomplished English writer and journalist born in the late 1890s to German Jewish immigrants. Her early life was marked by significant relocations, moving from London to Antwerp and back again before fleeing to London during World War I. Haldane began her writing career as a freelancer in 1914 and later worked as a social editor for the Daily Express. She published her first novel, *Man's World*, in 1926 and followed it with a feminist commentary on motherhood in *Motherhood and Its Enemies*.
Her political views evolved over time, as she became involved with communism in the late 1920s and supported the British Communist Party, particularly during the Spanish Civil War. However, by 1937, disillusionment with communism led her to write an anticommunist memoir, *The Truth Will Out*, which resulted in personal and professional fallout, including a rift with friends and a blacklisting from publishing. Despite these challenges, Haldane continued her career in broadcasting and published several biographies of notable women, with her last work appearing in 1970. Haldane's life reflects a complex interplay of literary ambition, political activism, and personal transformation.
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Subject Terms
Charlotte Franken Haldane
Writer
- Born: April 27, 1894
- Birthplace: Sydenham, London, England
- Died: March 16, 1969
Biography
Charlotte Franken Haldane was born in England in the late 1890’s. She was the daughter of German Jewish immigrants. When Haldane was twelve, she moved with her family from London, England, to Antwerp, Belgium. Four years later, the family returned to London, but fled during World War I. Haldane stayed behind, where she enrolled in typing school and worked on developing her writing. She embarked on a career as a freelance writer in 1914.
In 1918, Haldane married Jack Burgess, with whom she had one child. In 1921, Haldane became a social editor and reporter for the Daily Express. Five years later, Haldane left the Daily Express to run the Science News Service. That same year, Haldane published her successful first novel, Man’s World, and married her second husband, J. B. S. Haldane. Haldane released her second book, Motherhood and Its Enemies, the following year. Motherhood and Its Enemies was a commentary on motherhood, which Haldane wrote in a feminist vein. However, later feminists debunked this worked as actually being “antifeminist.”
In the late 1920’s, Haldane became involved with communism, and her 1930 novel Brother to Bert explored communist ideals such as social equality. In the 1930’s, Haldane joined the British Communist Party and supported its involvement in the Spanish Civil War. She served as a guide and translator and also recruited for the International Brigade. However, by 1937, Haldane found herself disillusioned with communism and published an anticommunist memoir, The Truth Will Out. The scandal caused by her revelations drove away most of her friends and led to her second divorce. It even caused her to be a person of interest to the British Intelligence Unit.
While blacklisted from publishing for a time, in 1943, Haldane became a producer for the the Indian Section of the British Broadcasting Corporation’s Eastern Service. She also began publishing biographies of inspiring women. Her last work was a biography, Madame de Maintenon: Uncrowned Queen of France, which was published in 1970.