Charles Dickens, Daniel Defoe, Joseph Conrad, HG Wells… these legendary writers all spent time living in Essex. But did you know a whole host of the world’s most successful authors, poets and screenwriters, have been born and bred in our fair county? You just haven’t heard of them!
We’re always told ‘never judge a book by its cover’ but when it comes to a fascinating new book exploring the hidden history of Essex authors, maybe we should.
Because ‘Famous Essex Authors You Have Never Heard Of’ by Dee Gordon does just as the title says- it gives the reader an insight into some of the world’s most famous names from the world of literature and, up until now, their largely unknown links to our county.
Dee, from Southend, has penned 12 books about Essex’s fascinating, sordid, murderous, inspirational, and often unbelievable past, however, she is extra proud of this latest work because it has been a pet project of hers for years.
The 76-year-old has always been interested in authors and their books – their backgrounds, their inspirations, how they write, why they write, and what they write. So, combined with her local history background, Famous Essex Authors was born.
The book features 44 mini biographies of Essex authors from the recent and distant past, too many of them now forgotten (hence the title!) along with a look at some of the big guns who have spent time in Essex, for example Charles Dickens and Daniel Defoe.
Dee is hoping that Famous Essex Authors will inspire admiration for those men and women who have, in many cases, achieved huge success with their work. The emphasis throughout is on their Essex connection, obviously – some having merited blue plaques such as John Fowles the Southend novelist who penned ‘The French Lieutenant’s Woman’. There are, however, many just as deserving, who are ‘plaque-less’.
These earlier generations of writers set the stage for those current Essex writers that feature on the bestseller lists.
Dee explained: 'Obviously the 20th century writers dominate simply because there were more of them for example, Douglas Adams from Brentwood (Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy), Dorothy L. Sayers from Witham (the Lord Peter Wimsey books), and Ursula Bloom of Frinton- on-Sea who was a prolific romance novelist.
'However, the timespan includes such luminaries as Joseph Strutt, Chelmsford, author of 18th century tomes regarding England and its people as well as 19th century novelist Lady Emma Caroline Wood from Cressing and Ockendon.'
Dee explained how another member of the aristocracy featured is the seventeenth century’s Lady Mary Wroth who has connections with Woodford and Loughton. She was around in 1621 and was potentially the first female English novelist.
'As members of the aristocracy, such women were well educated, but not necessarily well-heeled, needing to earn money for their families,' said Dee.
Obviously, it’s taken some years of research to uncover the authors detailed and Dee reveals just how successful some of these earlier forgotten writers were, with their books now only available from specialist online sources.
Some of the interesting authors uncovered include a married couple from Westcliff-on-Sea, who in the early 20th century, both achieved acclaim and profitability from their very different books- not an easy task.
Dee said: “The couple was Jeanie and John Coulson Kernahan. She achieved success with romances and religion and he with his more sensationalist novels. Both also produced children’s stories and poetry, so a very talented twosome with around 100 published books between them.”
What Dee, who is also the author of ‘Haunted Southend’, ‘The Secret History of Southend’ and ‘The Little Book of Essex’, has also found is a number of high-profile writers whose roots or long term residencies have been in Essex . These include possibly unexpected names such as HG Wells, Frankenstein author Mary Wollstonecraft and William Morris in his authorial role.
She also charts how Essex can even boast Hollywood screen writers such as James Hilton (Goodbye, Mr Chips) and Elinor Glyn, (the raunchy Three Weeks among others) in the first half of the 20th century.
Dee continued: 'Playwrights are included in the book because they are so often overlooked when it comes to thinking about authors, despite their acclaim, such as the little-remembered Harriet Jay from Grays, Thurrock, who achieved theatrical success particularly in America.
'Just as worthy of inclusion are scriptwriters such as Tony Holland from Shoeburyness, creator of EastEnders. Similarly, there are several featured poets and a special section on more famous poets who have spent time in Essex, including a reference to John Betjeman, a fan of Southend Pier.'
Children’s writers are not forgotten – or at least not by Dee. 'For instance, there was Richard “Roland Quiz” Quittenton from Westcliff who wrote the Tim Pippin books, among others, some the stuff of nightmares!' said Dee, 'while Dodie Smith from Finchingfield is remembered for ‘One Hundred and One Dalmatians’, but was by no means a one-hit wonder.'
With so many names to choose from, Dee does admit to having favourites, in particular those who came from working class roots and very non-literary backgrounds but who went on to achieve huge sales.
One such author was Violet Winspear from Hackney who left school at the age of 14 and moved with her mother to Leigh- on- Sea where she produced over 80 best-selling internationally based romances and graphic novels, remarkably without ever leaving the UK!
Of her personal favourites, however, is Rodney Wingfield from Basildon. Dee was a fan of the ‘Jack Frost’ author long before she was aware of his Essex connections. The books of course were turned into a successful television series featuring David Jason.
'Personally, I preferred the books,' says Dee.
Classical authors featured in the book include Daniel Defoe, Joseph Conrad and not forgetting Dracula author Bram Stoker, who all had links to Thurrock. Dee also reveals how little old Essex features in some of the best-selling classic works ever published, such as Swallows and Amazons and Jane Austen’s reference to Southend in Emma.
Dotted throughout the lavishly illustrated book are snippets about other authorial links to Essex and there is even a detailed fold out map at the back of the book illustrating the locations of all the authors mentioned.
Famous Essex Authors, You Have Never Heard Of is available from bookshops or online. A video short about the book can be viewed via essex100.com/product/famous-essex-authors/
PICS-
DEE GORDON PICS PR IMAGES- NO CREDIT
ALL OTHER IMAGES SUPPLIED BY THE BOOK PUBLISHERS, NO CREDIT NEEDED AS MOST IMAGES ARE VERY OLD AND NOBODY HOLDS THE COPYWRIGHT
