Robert Payne
Robert Payne was an accomplished and versatile writer, known primarily for his biographies and extensive contributions across various literary genres. Born in 1911 in Saltash, Cornwall, England, he had a diverse educational background, attending several prestigious institutions, including the University of Munich and the Sorbonne. Initially pursuing a career as a shipwright, Payne shifted his focus to writing, gaining recognition for his accounts of significant historical figures such as Adolph Hitler and Lenin.
His experiences in Europe and Asia greatly influenced his writing; he reported on the Spanish Civil War and served as a cultural attaché in China during World War II. His works from this period include China Awake and the novel Love and Peace. After moving to the United States in 1946, he held a professorship at Alabama College and later became a prominent figure in literary circles, founding the Montevallo Review and co-founding the Translation Center at Columbia University.
Payne's literary contributions extended to periodicals like The New York Times Magazine and the Saturday Review, and he was active in the translation community through PEN. He passed away in 1983, leaving behind a legacy of impactful writing and cultural engagement.
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Subject Terms
Robert Payne
Biologist
- Born: December 4, 1911
- Birthplace: Saltash, Cornwall, England
- Died: February 18, 1983
- Place of death: Bermuda
Biography
Robert Payne was a prolific writer in a range of genres, including histories, novels, short stories, poetry, essays, literary criticism, and translations. However, he is best known for his critically acclaimed biographies, including the best- sellers The Life and Death of Adolph Hitler (1973) and the The Life and Death of Lenin (1964).
Payne was born in Saltash, Cornwall, England, in 1911, the son of Stephen Payne, a shipbuilder, and Mireille Louise Antonia Payne. He received his early education at St. Paul’s School in London, and then attended a succession of schools, including Diocesan College in South Africa, Liverpool University, the University of Munich, and the Sorbonne. After completing his education, Payne began to pursue a career similar to his father’s by working as a shipwright’s apprentice. In the early 1930’s, he worked for Laird’s Shipbuilding Company in England. He left this position in 1937 and traveled throughout Europe, covering the Spanish Civil War in 1938 for the London News Chronicle. He wrote two books based on his experiences on the Continent, A Young Man Looks at Europe (1938) and a novel, The Song of the Peasant (1939), both written under the pseudonym Robert Young.
In 1939, Payne returned to shipwright work and took a position at the British naval base in Singapore. In 1941, he was sent to China as a cultural attaché at the British Embassy. Payne spent seven years in Asia, first as a shipwright and attaché, and then as a London Times correspondent in China, covering the Battle of Changsha in 1942. He also taught English literature, poetry, and naval architecture at two Chinese universities, the University at Fuhlar and Lienta University. Payne wrote numerous books based upon his experiences in China, including China Awake, 1944-1946 (1947) and the novel Love and Peace (1945).
In 1946, Payne moved to the United States and lived in Los Angeles, California, for three years before accepting a position as a professor of English and author-in-residence at Alabama College in Montevallo, Alabama. While in this position, Payne became the founding editor of the Montevallo Review. In 1953, Payne relocated to New York City and became a naturalized citizen of the United States.
Throughout his career, Payne contributed to many periodicals, including The New York Times Magazine, the Saturday Review, and United Nations World. He also served as the chairman of the translation committee of PEN. In 1967, he cofounded the Translation Center at Columbia University in New York City. Payne died in 1983.