Dermot Freyer facts for kids

Dermot Johnston Freyer (born July 29, 1883 – died January 11, 1970) was an Irish writer. He also spent time working as a political activist in Britain.

Early Life and Education

Dermot Freyer was born in Moradabad, India. His father, Peter Freyer, was working there as a doctor in the Indian Medical Service. Dermot grew up mostly in Dublin, Ireland.

He went to school at Wellington College, Berkshire. Later, he studied at Trinity College, Cambridge and then the University of Edinburgh. At Edinburgh, he was studying medicine. Before he finished his degree, he met Oliver St John Gogarty. Gogarty convinced him to leave university and focus on writing instead.

Freyer worked for a publisher named Charles Elkin Mathews. In this job, he read books that authors wanted to publish. He famously turned down James Joyce's book Dubliners. He felt that two of its stories were not suitable for publication.

Family and Writing

While in Edinburgh, Freyer met Lorna Doone, who was from New Zealand. Lorna became ill with tuberculosis and was told to return to New Zealand for her health. Freyer moved to Cambridge, and Lorna soon joined him there. They got married in 1909.

In 1912, Freyer became a joint editor of Granta, a student magazine. This was unusual because he was not a student at the time. He had a disagreement with his co-editor, Denis Garstin. However, Freyer still helped choose the next editor, Edward Shanks.

Dermot and Lorna had three children. Their son Patrick became an architect. Grattan started a pottery business. Michael became a hotel manager. Sadly, Lorna was often away due to poor health. She passed away in 1919 during the Spanish flu epidemic.

Military Service

Freyer joined the London Irish Rifles in 1905. He served with this group throughout World War I. It seems he was based in London and was in charge of fitting uniforms for soldiers. Despite this role, he was promoted to the rank of major.

Political Activities

Dermot Freyer also joined the Labour Party. He was elected to the Cambridge City Council, which meant he helped make decisions for the city of Cambridge.

He tried many times to become a Member of Parliament (MP). He ran for Parliament in different areas:

• Huntingdonshire in 1922
• The Isle of Ely in 1924 and 1929
• Hitchin in 1931

He was not successful in these elections.

Life on Achill Island

In 1932, Freyer wrote a novel called Not All Joy. This book was partly based on his own life.

In 1934, he moved to Achill Island, which is off the west coast of Ireland. He bought a house that used to belong to Charles Boycott. Freyer turned the house into a hotel. On Sundays, he would host song and dance events that everyone was welcome to join.

He ran the hotel in a very unusual way. He did not charge guests who did not have much money. But he would charge extra to anyone who did not take a daily bath! By 1964, he was running out of money. He sold the hotel and moved back to Cambridge.

Later Life and Legacy

Dermot Freyer had three sons. His sister, Kathleen, married Colonel John Duncan Grant VC. Colonel Grant was a British Indian Army officer.

Dermot Freyer passed away in early 1970. He was buried at Grantchester Church, which is near Cambridge.