Laurence (Housman) Houseman (1865 - 1959)

Born 18 Jul 1865 in Bromsgrove Worcestershire England

Ancestors

Died 20 Feb 1959 at age 93 in Wells Somerset England

Biography

Wikipedia Laurence Housman was born in Bromsgrove Worcestershire,one of seven children who included the poet A E.Housman and writer Clemence Housman.In 1871 his mother died and his father remarried to a cousin. After education at Bromsgrove School he went with his sister Clemence to study art at the Lambeth School of Art and the Royal College of Art in London.

He first worked as a book Illustrator with London Publishers ,Illustrating such works as George Meridith's Jump to Glory Jane (1892) ,Jonas Lie's Weird Tales (1892) ,Christina Rissetti's Goblin Market (1893) Jane Barlow's The End of Elfintown (1894) and his sister's Were-Wolf (1896). In an intricate Art Nouveau style. During this period he also wrote and published several volumes of poetry and a number of hyms and carols.

When his eyesight began to fail,he turned more and more to writing, Housman's first literary success came with the novel An Englishwoman's Love Letters (1900) published anonymously. He then turned to drama with Bethlehem (1902) and was to become known and remembered as a playwright. His other dramatic works include Angels and Ministers (1921) .little Plays of St.Francis (1922) and Victoria Regina (1934) which was even staged in Broadway.Housman's play.Pains and Penalties,about Queen Caroline,was produced by Edith Craig and the Pioneer Players.

Some of Housman's plays caused scandals because of depiction of biblical characters and living members of the Royal House on stage,and many of them were only played privately until the subsequent relaxation of theatrical censorship. In 1937 the Lord Chamberlain ruled that no British sovereign may be portrayed on the stage until 100 years after his or hers accession.For this reason. Victoria Regina could not be staged until the centenary of Queen Victoria's accession, 20 June 1937. This was a Sunday,so the premiere took place the next day

Housman also wrote children's fairy tales such as A Farm in Fairyland (1894) and fantasy stories with Christian undertones for adults such as All-Fellows (1896) . The Cloak of Friendship (1905) and Gods and their Makers (1897)

A prolific writer with around a hundred published works in his name, his output eventually covered all kinds of literature from socialist and pacifist pamphlets to children's stories. He wrote an autobiography The Unexpected Years (1937) which, despite his record of controversial writing said little about his homosexuality He also edited his brother's posthumous poems.

Housman held what for the time were controversial political views. He was a committed socialist and pacifist and founded the Men's League for Women's Suffrage with Henry Nevison and Henry Brailsford in 1907. He was also a member of the British Society of Sex Psychology and the Order of Chaeronea.

In 1909 with his sister Clemence founded the Suffrage Atelier ,an arts and crafts society who worked closely with the Women's Social and Political Union and Women's Freedom League. They encouraged non-professional artists to submit work,and paid them a small percentage of the profits.

In 1945 he opened Housman's Bookshop in Shaftesbury Avenue.London,founded in his honour by the Peace Pledge Union,of which he was a sponsor. In 1959 shortly after his death the shop moved to 5 Caledonian Road London N1 9DX ,where it is still a prime source of literature on pacifism and other radical approaches to living.

After World War 1 Laurence and his sister Clemence left their Kensington home and moved to a holiday cottage which they had previously rented in the village of Ashley in Hampshire.They stayed until 1924 when they moved to Street in Somerset where Laurence lived the last 35 years of his life.

Laurence was born in 1865. He was the son of Edward Houseman and Sarah Jane Williams. He passed away in 1959.

Sources

• England,Select Births and Christenings,1538-1975

Name Laurence Housman

Baptism Date 10 Aug.1865

Baptism Place Bromsgrove

Father Edward

Mother Sarah Jane

FHL Film Number 321131

Reference ID 231

Census 1881 in Bromsgrove age 15 Piece 2938

Census 1901 in Battersea London age 35 Piece 442

1939 England and Wales Register Name Laurence Housman Marital Status Single Birth Date 18 Jul 1865 Residence Year 1939 Address 'Longmeadow' Burleigh Residence Place Street Somerset England Occupation Author

UK and Ireland,Find a Grave Index,1300's-Current

Name Laurence Housman

Birth Date 18 July 1865

Death Date 20 Feb 1959

Cemetery Smallcombe Vale Cemetery

Burial or Cremation Place Bathwick,Bath

England and Wales,National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations) 1858-1995

Name Laurence Housman

Death Date 20 Feb 1959

Death Place Somerset England

Probate Date 20 Feb 1959

Probate Registry Gloucester