Hugo Dyson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hugo Dyson
|
|
|---|---|
Dyson in 1964/5 (in a still from the film Darling)
|
|
| Born | 7 April 1896 |
| Died | 6 June 1975 (aged 79) |
| Occupation | Scholar |
| Genre | Shakespearian Literature |
Henry Victor Dyson Dyson (born April 7, 1896 – died June 6, 1975) was an English scholar and teacher. Most people knew him as Hugo Dyson. He was a member of a famous writing group called the Inklings.
Dyson was a strong Christian. He helped his friend, the famous writer C. S. Lewis, become a Christian too. This happened after a long talk they had while walking in Oxford.
Contents
Hugo Dyson's Life and Work
A Teacher at Oxford
Hugo Dyson taught English at the University of Reading starting in 1924. Later, in 1945, he became a special teacher, called a "fellow," at Merton College at the Oxford University.
Many students learned from him at Oxford. One of his students was Stuart Hall, who later became a well-known thinker. Dyson retired in 1963. However, he came back in 1969 to teach a new course on modern literature. His classes were special because he often talked about writers who were his personal friends.
His Writings and Talks
Dyson did not write many books. But his lectures and conversations were very powerful and influenced many people. He wrote the introduction for his first published book, Poetry and Prose (1933). This book was a collection of works by Alexander Pope.
Another book he helped write was Augustans and Romantics, 1689–1830 (1940). This book looked at English literature from that time.
The Inklings Group
Hugo Dyson was part of the Inklings, a group of writers and thinkers at Oxford. They met to read and discuss their work. Dyson preferred talking at these meetings rather than listening to long readings.
He famously disliked J. R. R. Tolkien's book, The Lord of the Rings. He would complain loudly when Tolkien read parts of it to the group. Because of this, Tolkien eventually stopped reading his work to the Inklings.
On Television and in Film
Dyson was an expert on Shakespeare, a famous English playwright. In the early 1960s, he was asked to host TV shows about Shakespeare's plays and writings.
Because of his calm and natural style on TV, he was given a small part in the 1965 film Darling. He played Professor Walter Southgate, an important literary character in the movie.
His Personal Life
Hugo Dyson lived in Headington, a suburb in east Oxford, until he passed away. He is buried in Holywell Cemetery in Oxford.
Film Appearances
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | Darling | Walter Southgate | Not credited in the film |
