John Brophy
John Brophy was an English writer born in Liverpool in 1899, known for his impactful war novels that often explored the complexities and moral ambiguities of conflict. After serving in the British Army during World War I, he utilized his wartime experiences to inform his literary career. He began collecting art in 1920, specializing in sixteenth-century art, which complemented his diverse interests. Brophy graduated from the University of Liverpool in 1922 and obtained a diploma in education from the University of Durham the following year. He married Charis Weare Grundy and had a daughter, Brigid Brophy, who became a notable feminist writer herself.
His literary contributions include acclaimed works such as "The World Went Mad," which examines the impact of war on family dynamics, and "Gentleman of Stratford," a fictionalized biography of William Shakespeare. Brophy's novels, translated into sixteen languages, stood out not just for their storytelling but also for their nuanced portrayal of the emotional turmoil faced by individuals in wartime. He edited anthologies that further reflected his engagement with the themes of soldiering and wartime experience, earning him recognition as a significant figure in 20th-century literature. Overall, Brophy's work is respected for addressing the harsh realities of war without glorifying it, providing a thoughtful commentary on the human condition amidst conflict.
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Subject Terms
John Brophy
Author
- Born: December 6, 1899
- Birthplace: Liverpool, England
- Died: November 13, 1965
Biography
John Brophy was born in Liverpool, England, in 1899, to John Brophy and Agnes Bodell Brophy. He served in the British Army in World War I in France and Belgium, an experience that served him well in his career as a writer. He started to collect art in 1920, a practice he was to enjoy all his life, and came to specialize in sixteenth century art. After the war, he returned to England to continue his education, graduated from the University of Liverpool in 1922, and received a diploma in education from the University of Durham in 1923. The following year he married Charis Weare Grundy. The couple lived very happily together and had one daughter, the prominent feminist writer Brigid Brophy.
Brophy’s work experience provided material for his later novels. He worked for the Egyptian Civil Service for two years, as a department store manager, and as a copywriter and critic for Daily Telegraph, Time, and Tide. Brophy remained highly regarded for his war novels (four of which were made into films) the most notable of which is the popular 1934 book The World Went Mad, set during World War I. The story addresses the rise and fall of family fortunes during wartime. Brophy edited and wrote the introduction to The Soldier’s War: A Prose Anthology and Songs and Slang of the British Soldier, 1914-1918 (1930). In addition to his many war novels, Brophy also received praise for his 1940 Gentleman of Stratford, a fictionalized biography of William Shakespeare that plays close attention to historical fact. Brophy, whose novels have been translated into sixteen languages, came to be highly regarded and categorized as a popular war novelist. However, rather than valorizing war, he deftly addressed the ambivalence men in conflict experience when confronting the brutality of war and its aftermath.