Eric Knight facts for kids

Eric Mowbray Knight (born April 10, 1897 – died January 15, 1943) was an English writer and screenwriter. He is mainly known for his famous 1940 novel, Lassie Come-Home. This book introduced the world to the beloved fictional collie dog, Lassie. Eric Knight became an American citizen in 1942, shortly before he passed away.

About Eric Knight

Eric Knight was born in Menston, West Yorkshire, England. He was the youngest of three sons. His parents, Marion Hilda and Frederic Harrison Knight, were part of a group called Quakers. Eric's father was a wealthy diamond merchant. When Eric was only two years old, his father was killed during the Second Boer War.

After his father's death, Eric's mother moved to St. Petersburg, Imperial Russia. She worked there as a governess for the royal family. Later, in 1912, the family moved and settled in the United States.

Eric Knight's Early Career

Eric Knight had many different jobs throughout his life. During World War I, he served as a signaller in the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry. Later, he was a captain in the U.S. Army Reserve until 1926. Sadly, both of his brothers were killed while serving in World War I.

Besides his military service, Eric Knight also worked as an art student, a newspaper reporter, and a Hollywood screenwriter.

Family Life

Eric Knight was married twice. His first marriage was on July 28, 1917, to Dorothy Caroline Noyes Hall. They had three daughters together before they divorced. His second marriage was to Jere Brylawski on December 2, 1932.

Eric Knight's Writing Career

Eric Knight's first novel was Invitation to Life, published in 1934. His second book, Song on Your Bugles (1936), was about the lives of working-class people in Northern England. He also wrote a detective novel called You Play the Black and the Red Comes Up (1938) under the pen name "Richard Hallas".

One of Knight's most important novels was This Above All. It is considered a significant book about World War II. He also helped write the film Battle of Britain for the "Why We Fight" series, directed by Frank Capra.

The Story of Lassie

Eric Knight and his second wife, Jere Knight, raised collie dogs on their farm in Pleasant Valley, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. They lived at Springhouse Farm from 1939 to 1943.

His most famous novel, Lassie Come-Home, was published in 1940. It was based on a short story he wrote in 1938 for The Saturday Evening Post magazine.

The novel was made into a movie by MGM in 1943. The film, also called Lassie Come Home, starred Roddy McDowall as Joe Carraclough and a dog actor named Pal as Lassie. The success of the book and the movie led to more films and several TV shows. This made Lassie a famous and beloved dog character around the world. The novel Lassie Come-Home is still very popular and has been reprinted many times.

The Flying Yorkshireman

One of Eric Knight's later books was Sam Small Flies Again, which was also published as The Flying Yorkshireman. This book features a funny character named Sam Small from Yorkshire, England. Sam is known for telling outrageous and funny tall tales. In these stories, Sam can actually fly, which gets him into all sorts of funny situations. The New York Times called it "An immensely funny book."

Eric Knight's Books

• Song On Your Bugles, (1936)
• You Play The Black And The Red Comes Up, (written as: Richard Hallas) (1940)
• Now Pray We For Our Country, (1940)
• Sam Small Flies Again, (also titled: The Flying Yorkshireman) (1942)
• This Above All, (1942)
• Lassie Come-Home, (1943)
• Portrait Of A Flying Yorkshireman, (edited by Paul Rotha) (1952)

Eric Knight's Death

In 1943, Eric Knight was a major in the United States Army – Special Services. He was working on two of Frank Capra's Why We Fight film series. Sadly, he was killed in a C-54 plane crash in Dutch Guiana (which is now Suriname) in South America.

• . Yale Collection of American Literature, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library.

See also

In Spanish: Eric Knight para niños