Byron, Robert, 1905-1941

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Robert Byron (1905-1941), writer and art critic, was born in London and educated at Eton College and Merton College, Oxford University. Byron made a career out of writing about his extensive travels (including Greece, India, Tibet, Russia, Afghanistan, Iran, and Iraq). Byron also wrote on art and architecture in both his travel narratives and in other projects (such as The Appreciation of Architecture published in 1927). He was a founding member of the Georgian Group, which was established in 1937 as an offshoot of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings. During World War II Byron worked for the British Ministry of Information as a propagandist, for which he traveled to Germany. Byron died on his way to the Middle East on February 24, 1941, when the ship he was on was torpedoed.

From the description of Robert Byron papers, 1866-2005 (bulk 1909-1941). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 702181433

Robert Byron, writer and art critic, was born in London and educated at Eton College and Merton College, Oxford University. Byron was the first of three children born to Eric Byron, a civil engineer, and Margaret Robinson Byron, an amateur artist. Byron made a career out of writing about his extensive travels and his first book, Europe in the Looking-Glass (1926), is based on his travels to Germany, Italy, and Greece while still an undergraduate student. Byron's later travels to Greece (1926, 1927, and 1931), and fascination with Byzantine art, were also inspiration for his books The Station (1928), The Byzantine Achievement (1929), and The Birth of Western Painting (1931).

In 1929 Byron flew to India for the Daily Express in order to write a series of articles on the Indian air mail. Once in India, Byron continued his travels throughout the region (including a stint in Tibet) which he wrote about in articles as well as in his book An Essay on India (1931). Byron later recounted his travels in Tibet following a trip to Russia (1932) in his book First Russia, Then Tibet (1933).

In 1933 and 1934 Byron traveled to the Middle East, spending time largely in Persia and Afghanistan, but also passing through Cyprus, Palestine, Syria, and Iraq. These travels resulted in Byron's best known book: The Road to Oxiana (1937). Byron collaborated with Christopher Sykes to publish the novel Innocence and Design (1935) under the pseudonym "Richard Waughburton" in which they drew on their experiences in Persia (now Iran). Byron also wrote an essay, "Timurid Architecture", for Arthur Upham Pope's Survey of Persian Art (1938) based on his observations of Persian architecture. On his return to England Byron worked on two travel books on the British Isles: Shell Guide to Wiltshire (1935) and Imperial Pilgrimage (1937). Byron continued traveling after his trip to the Middle East, including trips to America, Russia, Siberia, China, and Japan, reporting on his experiences in newspapers and journals.

Byron wrote on art and architecture in both his travel narratives and in other projects (such as The Appreciation of Architecture published in 1927). He was also a founding member of the Georgian Group, which was established in 1937 as an offshoot of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings.

In the late thirties and early forties Byron's chief preoccupation was with Nazism and World War II. While Byron's pursuit of a position with the military was unsuccessful, he found outlets for political action in the Federal Union League and with the Ministry of Information. In 1938 Byron secured contract work with the Ministry of Information as a propagandist, for which he traveled to Germany and attended the Parteitag (the Nazi Party Congress). On his return to Britain the project ended and Byron ultimately joined the European News Department of the BBC. In 1940 Byron again became involved with government wartime endeavors and, under the guise of a Times correspondent, he was sent to Iran in order to observe Russian activity regarding Middle East oil. Byron died on his way to the Middle East on February 24, 1941 when the ship he was on was torpedoed.

From the guide to the Robert Byron Papers, 1866-2005, 1909-1941, (Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Sykes, Christopher, 1907-1986. The Christopher Sykes papers, 1945-1981. Georgetown University, Joseph Mark Lauinger Memorial Library
creatorOf Kinross, Patrick Balfour, Baron, 1904-. Papers of Patrick Balfour, Baron Kinross, 1922-1976. Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens
creatorOf Robert Byron Papers, 1866-2005, 1909-1941 Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Acton, Harold Mario Mitchell. person
associatedWith Acton, Harold Mario Mitchell. person
associatedWith A.D. Peters (Firm) corporateBody
associatedWith Antrim, Randal John Somerled McDonnell, Earl of, 1911-1977. person
associatedWith Betjeman, John, 1906-1984. person
associatedWith British Broadcasting Corporation. corporateBody
associatedWith Chetwode, Penelope. person
associatedWith Chetwode, Penelope. person
associatedWith George Routledge and Sons. corporateBody
associatedWith Georgian Group (London, England). corporateBody
associatedWith Guinness, Bryan, 1905- person
associatedWith Harrod, Roy Forbes, Sir, 1900- person
associatedWith Huxley, Michael. person
associatedWith Kinross, Patrick Balfour, Baron, 1904-. person
associatedWith Kyrou, Achil. A. (Achilleus A.) person
associatedWith Lees-Milne, James. person
associatedWith Lees-Milne, James. person
associatedWith Locker Lampson, Oliver, 1880-1954. person
associatedWith Lutyens, Edwin Landseer, Sir, 1869-1944. person
associatedWith MacMillan & Co. corporateBody
associatedWith MacMillan & Co. corporateBody
associatedWith Maugham, W. Somerset (William Somerset), 1874-1965. person
associatedWith Messel, Oliver, 1904-1978. person
associatedWith Mosley, Cynthia, Lady, 1898-1933. person
associatedWith Parsons, Desmond, 1910-1937. person
associatedWith Sackville-West, Edward, Hon., 1901-1965. person
associatedWith Sitwell, Edith, Dame, 1887-1964. person
associatedWith Stokes, Adrian Durham, 1902-1972. person
associatedWith Stuart Wortley, Violet, 1866-1953. person
associatedWith Sykes, Christopher, 1907-1986. person
associatedWith Waughburton, Richard. person
associatedWith Waugh, Evelyn, 1903-1966. person
associatedWith West, Rebecca. person
associatedWith West, Rebecca, 1892-1983. person
associatedWith Wicklow, William Cecil Forward Howard Clonmore, Earl of, 1902-1978. person
associatedWith Wyndham, Violet. person
associatedWith Young, G. M. (George Malcolm), 1882-1959. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Iraq
Iran
Middle East
Russia
Iraq
Iran
Europe
Afghanistan
Tibet (China)
Afghanistan
Middle East
Great Britain
Tibet Autonomous Region (China)
Europe
Russia
Subject
Authors, British
British literature
Travelers' writings, British
Travelers' writings, English
Travel writers
Travel writers
Travel writing
Travel writing
World War, 1939-1945
World War, 1939-1945
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1905-02-26

Death 1941-02-24

Britons

English

Information

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