Strong, Leonard Alfred George

Novelist, critic, and man of letters, Leonard Alfred George Strong was born in Plymouth, Devon, in 1896. He was educated at Brighton College and he studied at Wadham College, Oxford, where he received encouragement from W. B. Yeats. He was exempted from military service during the First World War on medical grounds. Strong taught for twelve years at Summer Fields School, Oxford, before becoming a professional writer. He was also a Visiting Tutor at the Central School of Speech and Drama. Between 1938 and 1958, he was Director of Methuen Ltd. (Publishers). Strong's own output over nearly forty years includes poetry, short stories, novels, biography, and commentary. Published poetry includes Dublin days (1921), Northern lights (1930), The doll (1947), and The body's imperfections: collected poems of L. A. G. Strong (1957). Short stories include Doyle's rock and other stories (1925), Tuesday afternoon and other stories (1935), Sun on water and other stories (1940), and Darling Tom and other stories (1952). Novels include Dewer rides (1929), The open sky (1939), Travellers (1945), Travannion (1945), Deliverance (1955), and The light above the lake (1958). Biography includes Dr. Qicksilver 1660-1742, The life and times of Thomas Dover MD (1955) and Henry of Agincourt (1937). Leonard Alfred George Strong died on 17 August 1958. A memorial service was held for him at St. Martin-in-the-Fields, London, on 3 October 1958.

Epithet: writer