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| '''Sir Harold Hobson''' (4 August 1904 – 12 March 1992) was an ] drama critic and author. | '''Sir Harold Hobson''' (4 August 1904 – 12 March 1992) was an ] drama critic and author. | ||
| == |
==Early life, family and education== | ||
| Hobson was born in ] near ] then in the ], England. He attended ], from where he gained a scholarship to ] at ], graduating with a second-class degree in Modern History in 1928.<ref name=ODMD>{{cite encyclopedia| authorlink= Michael Billington (critic) | first= Michael |last= Billington| url= http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/51130 |title= Hobson, Sir Harold (1904–1992)| work= ]| publisher= Oxford University Press| year= 2004| edition= online October 2009| access-date= 1 July 2015}}</ref> | |||
| ==Career== | |||
| In 1931, he began to write London theatre reviews for '']'' and in 1935 he was employed on the paper's staff, remaining its London drama critic until 1974.<ref name=ODMD /> He was an assistant literary editor for '']'' from 1944 and later became its drama critic (1947–76). He was the only drama critic to recognise the early ]'s talent as a dramatist<ref>Peter Hall |
In 1931, he began to write London theatre reviews for '']'' and in 1935 he was employed on the paper's staff, remaining its London drama critic until 1974.<ref name=ODMD /> He was an assistant literary editor for '']'' from 1944 and later became its drama critic (1947–76). He was the only drama critic to recognise the early ]'s talent as a dramatist<ref>{{cite news| first= Peter |last= Hall| url= https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2003/jan/04/theatre.beckettat100 |title= Godotmania| work= ]| date= 4 January 2003}}</ref> and wrote of '']'': "I am willing to risk whatever reputation I have as a judge of plays by saying ... that Mr Pinter, on the evidence of this work, possesses the most original, disturbing and arresting talent in theatrical London."<ref>{{cite news| first= Michael |last= Billington| url= https://www.theguardian.com/books/2008/may/03/theatre.stage |title= Fighting talk| work= The Guardian| date= 3 May 2008| access-date= }} (on 50th anniversary of the opening of ''The Birthday Party'' at the ])</ref> During his career, he was to champion many other new playwrights, especially ], ] and ]. | ||
| Hobson also wrote for ''Drama'' and '']'' and was a regular member of the ] programme ''The Critics''. He was invited by ] to join the board of the ]. | Hobson also wrote for ''Drama'' and '']'' and was a regular member of the ] programme ''The Critics''. He was invited by ] to join the board of the ]. | ||
| Hobson wrote a number of books relating to British and French theatre, including his autobiography, entitled ''Indirect Journey'' (1978), and a personal history based on his work as a drama critic, ''Theatre in Britain'' (1984). He also wrote a novel, ''The Devil in Woodford Wells'' (1946).<ref>{{cite web |title=The devil in Woodford Wells: a fantastic novel |url=https://apps.lords.org/lords/tours-and-museum/museum/searchthecollections/artefactdetails/Library/3279?page=7 |website=Lord's |access-date=17 May 2020}}</ref> | Hobson wrote a number of books relating to British and French theatre, including his autobiography, entitled ''Indirect Journey'' (1978), and a personal history based on his work as a drama critic, ''Theatre in Britain'' (1984). He also wrote a novel, ''The Devil in Woodford Wells'' (1946).<ref>{{cite web |title=The devil in Woodford Wells: a fantastic novel |url= https://apps.lords.org/lords/tours-and-museum/museum/searchthecollections/artefactdetails/Library/3279?page=7 |website= lords.org| publisher= Lord's |access-date=17 May 2020}}</ref> | ||
| Harold Hobson was knighted in 1977.<ref name=ODMD/> | Harold Hobson was knighted in 1977.<ref name=ODMD/> | ||
Revision as of 22:56, 11 March 2021
Sir Harold Hobson (4 August 1904 – 12 March 1992) was an English drama critic and author.
Early life, family and education
Hobson was born in Thorpe Hesley near Rotherham then in the West Riding of Yorkshire, England. He attended Sheffield Grammar School, from where he gained a scholarship to Oriel College at Oxford University, graduating with a second-class degree in Modern History in 1928.
Career
In 1931, he began to write London theatre reviews for The Christian Science Monitor and in 1935 he was employed on the paper's staff, remaining its London drama critic until 1974. He was an assistant literary editor for The Sunday Times from 1944 and later became its drama critic (1947–76). He was the only drama critic to recognise the early Harold Pinter's talent as a dramatist and wrote of The Birthday Party: "I am willing to risk whatever reputation I have as a judge of plays by saying ... that Mr Pinter, on the evidence of this work, possesses the most original, disturbing and arresting talent in theatrical London." During his career, he was to champion many other new playwrights, especially John Osborne, Samuel Beckett and Tom Stoppard.
Hobson also wrote for Drama and The Listener and was a regular member of the BBC radio programme The Critics. He was invited by Peter Hall to join the board of the National Theatre.
Hobson wrote a number of books relating to British and French theatre, including his autobiography, entitled Indirect Journey (1978), and a personal history based on his work as a drama critic, Theatre in Britain (1984). He also wrote a novel, The Devil in Woodford Wells (1946).
Harold Hobson was knighted in 1977.
References
- ^ Billington, Michael (2004). Hobson, Sir Harold (1904–1992) (online October 2009 ed.). Oxford University Press. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
{{cite encyclopedia}}:|work=ignored (help) - Hall, Peter (4 January 2003). "Godotmania". The Guardian.
- Billington, Michael (3 May 2008). "Fighting talk". The Guardian. (on 50th anniversary of the opening of The Birthday Party at the Lyric Hammersmith)
- "The devil in Woodford Wells: a fantastic novel". lords.org. Lord's. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
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