Brigid Brophy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Brigid Brophy
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| Born | Brigid Antonia Brophy 12 June 1929 Ealing, England |
| Died | 7 August 1995 (aged 66) Louth, Lincolnshire, England |
| Occupation | Author and literary critic |
| Genre | Short stories, novels, plays, non-fiction studies, literary criticism. |
| Notable works | Hackenfeller's Ape (1953); Flesh (1962); The Snow Ball (1964) |
| Spouse | Michael Levey |
| Parents | John Brophy (father) |
Brigid Brophy (born Brigid Antonia Brophy) was an English writer and critic. She lived from 1929 to 1995. Brigid was known for her strong opinions and for fighting for important causes.
She was a big supporter of animal rights and vegetarianism. She also believed in humanism, which focuses on human values and reason. Brigid was a strong voice for social reform, meaning she wanted to make society fairer.
Brigid Brophy often appeared on TV and in newspapers. This made her well-known in both writing circles and the wider public. People saw her as a very smart woman. Her books included both fiction and non-fiction. They showed how much she knew about many different subjects.
One of Brigid's biggest achievements was starting the discussion about animal rights. She also helped create the Public Lending Right (PLR). This system makes sure writers in the UK get paid a small amount each time their book is borrowed from a public library.
Contents
Brigid Brophy's Early Life
Brigid Brophy was born in London. Her father, John Brophy, was also a writer. Her mother, Charis, was a teacher. Brigid's schooling was a bit mixed up because of World War II. She went to several different schools, including St Paul's Girls' School.
Brigid was a very bright child. Her father encouraged her love for reading. He introduced her to famous authors like George Bernard Shaw. When she was just 15, Brigid won a scholarship to Oxford University. She studied classics there. However, she left Oxford before finishing her degree.
After leaving university, Brigid worked as a typist. She lived in a rented apartment near London Zoo.
Family Life and Health Challenges
Brigid met Michael Levey, an art historian, at a party. They got married in 1954. Michael later became the Director of the National Gallery. In 1957, they had a daughter named Katharine, who they called Kate.
Later in her life, Brigid started having trouble walking. It took some time for doctors to figure out what was wrong. When she was in her 50s, she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). This is a condition that affects the brain and spinal cord.
In 1987, Michael Levey left his job to take better care of Brigid. She kept writing even as her health declined. In 1991, she had to move to a nursing home in Lincolnshire. Her husband and daughter moved to the same town to be near her. Michael visited Brigid every afternoon until she passed away in 1995, at age 66.
Brigid Brophy's Novels and Stories
Brigid Brophy became a published author in 1953. She was in her early twenties. Her first book was a collection of short stories called The Crown Princess. It was praised by critics.
Hackenfeller's Ape: A Story for Animal Rights
In the same year, her first novel, Hackenfeller's Ape, came out. Brigid was inspired to write it because she lived near London Zoo. She could hear the lions roaring. Since she was a child, she had always cared deeply about animals.
The story is about a plan to send an ape into space for a science experiment. The main characters try to stop this plan. Hackenfeller's Ape was praised for being very original. It won an award for a first novel. This book helped Brigid become known as a novelist.
Other Notable Fiction Works
Brigid continued to write short stories. Her novel The King of A Rainy Country (1956) is a funny and touching story. It follows a character named Susan looking for a girl she loved at school.
Flesh (1962) is about a shy man named Marcus who discovers a love for life's pleasures. The Finishing Touch (1963) is a lighter story. It features a headmistress who is based on a real art historian.
Many people consider The Snow Ball (1964) to be Brigid's best novel. It takes place at a fancy costume party on New Year's Eve. The story is inspired by Mozart's opera Don Giovanni. This book has been reprinted many times.
In Transit (1969) is a unique novel set in an airport lounge. Brigid played with how the story is told. The book is full of clever wordplay and ideas. It explores themes like gender and language. This novel is seen as one of her most experimental works.
Her last novel, Palace Without Chairs (1978), is set in a made-up European kingdom. It's about a royal family that tries to be democratic. The prince rebels against what is expected of him.
Pussy Owl: A Children's Book
Brigid's imagination was very active and she wrote many different kinds of stories. She even wrote a children's book called Pussy Owl (1976). This book features her own invented character, the "Superbeast." The Superbeast is a proud creature, inspired by Edward Lear's poem "The Owl and the Pussycat." Jackanory, a BBC television show, even featured an episode about Pussy Owl.
Brigid also wrote plays. Her radio play, The Waste Disposal Unit, was broadcast in 1964. She also wrote a play for the theater called The Burglar. It opened in Brighton and then moved to London's West End in 1967. However, it did not run for very long.
Brigid Brophy's Non-Fiction and Campaigns
Brigid Brophy was a very busy writer. She often worked on several projects at once. Besides writing fiction, she did a lot of research for her non-fiction books. Her first major study was Black Ship to Hell (1962). This book looked at why humans sometimes act in self-destructive ways.
A Sharp Literary Critic
Brigid was a popular and often sharp literary critic. She reviewed books for many journals and newspapers. She also wrote essays and pamphlets for the causes she cared about. She often wrote letters and opinion pieces for the press. She spoke out strongly against things like vivisection (animal testing), the Vietnam War, and censorship. She was also quick to point out mistakes or weak arguments she found.
Her later critical books included Mozart the Dramatist (1964). In this book, Brigid explained how well Mozart showed real human feelings in his operas. In Prancing Novelist (1973), she explored the life of writer Ronald Firbank. She used this to explain why fiction is so valuable.
Challenging Traditional Ideas
In 1967, Brigid worked with her husband Michael Levey and their friend Charles Osborne. They wrote a book called Fifty Works of English Literature We Could Do Without. This book playfully questioned which books are considered "great literature." It caused a lot of discussion and even some outrage.
Fighting for Animal Rights
The Sunday Times newspaper asked Brigid to write an opinion piece. Her response was The Rights of Animals (1965). This powerful article was widely discussed. It was similar to Thomas Paine's famous essays, The Rights of Man. The Rights of Animals made Brigid a key figure in the growing animal rights movement. She was a strong and clear advocate for animals.
Brigid also wrote two books about Aubrey Beardsley. He was an artist known for his black and white drawings. Brigid greatly admired his work. In 1983, she published The Prince and the Wild Geese. This book was mostly pictures. It told the story of a Russian Prince and an Irish girl.
Brigid also created a literary game show called Take It Or Leave It. Famous authors would play on the show.
The Public Lending Right Campaign
In 1969, Brigid worked with Maureen Duffy to create "Prop Art." They made three-dimensional art pieces that were playful but also serious. These pieces used visual and verbal puns to explore ideas.
In the early 1970s, Brigid, Michael Levey, Maureen Duffy, and two others formed the Writers Action Group (WAG). Their goal was to get authors paid when their books were borrowed from public libraries in the UK. This system, called the Public Lending Right (PLR), is still in place today.
Brigid spent seven years campaigning for PLR. She succeeded in making it happen, something her father had also wanted. The Writers Action Group got support from many writers. They also organized clever publicity, including a protest in central London. With help from some politicians, the PLR UK Bill finally passed in 1979. Brigid later wrote a helpful guide about PLR.
