Stephen Hudson
Stephen Hudson, born Sydney Alfred Schiff on December 12, 1868, was an English author and translator known for his autobiographical novels. He came from a wealthy family with a diverse background; his grandfather was a German Jew who achieved success in banking. Hudson's early life was shaped by privilege and education, but he notably declined admission to Oxford University, choosing instead to work on a ranch in Canada. His personal life included two marriages, the first to Marion Fulton Canine, which ended in divorce due to their struggles and her objections to his literary pursuits. Hudson later remarried Violet Zillah Beddington, who supported his writing ambitions. He adopted the pseudonym Stephen Hudson to protect his family's privacy, particularly given the autobiographical nature of his work. Although his novels were not widely popular during his lifetime, they exhibit a complex style and deep character insights, leading some critics to believe there may be renewed interest in his contributions to literature. Hudson passed away on October 29, 1944.
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Subject Terms
Stephen Hudson
- Born: December 12, 1868
- Birthplace: London, England
- Died: October 29, 1944
Biography
Stephen Hudson was born Sydney Alfred Schiff, the son of Alfred George Schiff and Caroline Mary Ann Eliza Scates Cavell. There were no written records of the birth, but he was told he was born on December 12, 1868. Hudson’s grandfather was an expatriate German Jew who married into a wealthy Austrian family and became a successful banker. His father moved to London in 1860 and became a member of the London Stock Exchange.
At the time of his birth, Hudson’s mother was married to John Scott Cavell and was the mother of a one-year-old daughter. Following a scandal and the Cavells’ divorce, Hudson’s parents were married on August 14, 1869. Hudson and his siblings were not told about their mother’s former marriage for many years.
Hudson grew up surrounded by wealth, comfort, and culture. He was taught by tutors, and attended G. T. Worsley’s preparatory school and Wellington College. He was accepted to Oxford University, but he declined admission in protest of his father’s pressuring him to study to join the family firm. Hudson instead went to Alberta, Canada, to work on a family friend’s ranch. He did not enjoy the work; he was also unhappy working for his uncle at the Cincinnati Holding Company.
He met Marion Fulton Canine in Louisville, Kentucky, and the two eloped; they were married on August 29, 1889. The marriage was not successful; the family funded travel for the couple through Europe and the United States because Marion could not get along with Hudson’s mother. Later, the two were given a villa in Como, Italy. Marion discouraged her husband in his ambition to write, and he left her. They later divorced; he gave her half his money, and she insisted on support as well, even after remarrying a wealthy man.
Hudson married Violet Zillah Beddington on May 10, 1911. She and her family encouraged Hudson’s literary ambitions. He wrote a series of autobiographical novels. The first was published under Sydney Schiff’s name. After that, the author adopted the pseudonym Stephen Hudson, probably to protect the family since so many details about their lives are revealed in the novels. The character Richard Kurt shares many of Hudson’s experiences, including the pain of his first marriage.
Besides writing novels, Hudson translated works by Marcel Proust and Hermann Hesse, and was particularly influenced by Proust. Hudson died on October 29, 1944. Even at the time of their publication, Hudson’s novels were not widely read. Their upper-class characters did not appeal to many readers and Hudson’s writing style is challenging. Some critics have suggested that Hudson’s insights into his characters and his unusual style could lead to renewed interest in his work.