Ivor Brown facts for kids

Ivor John Carnegie Brown (born April 25, 1891 – died April 22, 1974) was a British journalist and a well-known writer. He wrote many books and articles.

Who Was Ivor Brown?

Ivor Brown was born in Penang, Malaya. He was the younger son of Dr. William Carnegie Brown. His father was a doctor who specialized in tropical diseases.

Ivor was sent to Britain when he was very young. He went to Suffolk Hall preparatory school. Later, he attended Cheltenham College. After more private lessons, he got into Balliol College, Oxford. He graduated with top honors in classical studies.

Starting His Career

In 1913, Ivor passed a test for a government job. He worked at the Home Office for only two days. He quickly realized the job was not for him. So, he quit to become a freelance writer. This meant he wrote for different places.

During World War I, he was a conscientious objector. This means he refused to fight in the war because of his beliefs. He started writing books around this time. He was very good at writing quickly. He could also write about many different topics. This made him perfect for a career in journalism. After writing for The New Age, he joined The Manchester Guardian in 1919.

His Views on Modern Art

Ivor Brown was not afraid to share his opinions. He often wrote funny and strong articles. These articles were about modern poetry, music, and manners. He sometimes criticized new styles of art. He believed that some modern works were not very good.

Writing About Shakespeare

Ivor Brown loved William Shakespeare. He wrote several books about Shakespeare's life. He also wrote about Shakespeare's career. One book even explored the poet's love life.

In 1937, he wrote a play about Anne Whateley. She was a woman linked to Shakespeare. The play was published in 1947. It was also broadcast on the BBC in 1953. Irene Worth played Anne, and John Gregson played Shakespeare.

His Interest in Words

From his early writings, Ivor Brown was interested in grammar. He also loved how words were used. In the 1920s, he wrote an essay called "Winning Out." It gently criticized a trend from America. This trend was adding extra words to verbs.

Brown went on to write a very popular series of fifteen books. These books were all about how words are used. He pointed out unusual ways people used language. He did this with humor and charm.

Editor of The Observer

In 1942, the editor of The Observer newspaper left his job. After a few temporary editors, Ivor Brown became the new editor in August. The newspaper was changing a lot at this time. New writers joined, and the paper's views became more modern.

Many people thought Brown's job as editor would be short. Waldorf Astor's son, David Astor, was expected to take over. Brown focused on the paper's cultural topics. He left the political side to David Astor. Brown was editor until David Astor officially took over in 1948. After that, Brown continued to review plays for The Observer. He did this until 1954.

His Later Years

In his final years, Ivor Brown focused on writing books. He published over 75 books in total. These books covered many different topics. But he was best known for his works on literature and the English language.

He was the chairman of the British Drama League from 1954 to 1962. He was also a member of the Royal Society of Literature. In 1957, he was given the CBE award. He passed away in London in 1974.

His Books

Word Series

Other Books

Books He Edited

• The Bedside 'Guardian': A Selection by Ivor Brown from the Manchester Guardian 1951–1952
• The Bedside 'Guardian' 2: A Selection by Ivor Brown from the Manchester Guardian 1952–1953
• The Bedside 'Guardian' 3: A Selection by Ivor Brown from the Manchester Guardian 1953–1954
• The Bedside 'Guardian' 4: A Selection by Ivor Brown from the Manchester Guardian 1954–1955
• The Bedside 'Guardian' 5: A Selection by Ivor Brown from the Manchester Guardian 1955–1956
• The Bedside 'Guardian' 6: A Selection by Ivor Brown from the Manchester Guardian 1956–1957
• The Bedside 'Guardian' 7: A Selection by Ivor Brown from the Manchester Guardian 1957–1958