Powys, John Cowper, 1872-1963

Variant names
Dates:
Birth 1872-10-08
Death 1963-06-17
Britons,
English,

Biographical notes:

English novelist, essayist, and lecturer.

From the description of Letter, 1934 Dec. 12, Dorchester, England, to John P. Waters, Cambridge, Mass. (University of Michigan). WorldCat record id: 34365010

From the description of Correspondence, with Alan Dakers, 1948. (University of Michigan). WorldCat record id: 34364799

From the description of Letter, 1944 July 18, Cae Coed, Corwen, Wales, to Ada McVickar, New York. (University of Michigan). WorldCat record id: 34364804

John Cowper Powys, born in Derbyshire and educated at Cambridge, was a noted English novelist. His work included novels such as "Wolf Solent" (1929) and "A Glastonbury Romance" (1932), his "Autobiography" (1934), poems, critical essays and lectures. The University of Victoria Libraries Special Collections has a mandate to acquire literary papers.

From the description of John Cowper Powys collection. [1953-1956]. (University of Victoria Libraries). WorldCat record id: 651604407

English writer John Cowper Powys was the eldest of eleven children born to an orthodox Christian minister and a descendent of the poets John Donne and William Cowper; two siblings also became writers. Writing in diverse formats, Powys carved his own niche by inserting fantastic elements into his fiction, which stressed empathy, individuality, and creative energy. He also excelled as a lecturer.

From the description of John Cowper Powys letter to Curtis, 1938 Oct. 14. (Pennsylvania State University Libraries). WorldCat record id: 51464329

From the description of John Cowper Powys letter to Wallace Brockway and Bart Weiner, 1948 Nov. 4. (Pennsylvania State University Libraries). WorldCat record id: 57591618

Noted author and lecturer.

From the description of John Cowper Powys letters to [James] Waldo Fawcett [manuscript], 1927, 1932. (University of Virginia). WorldCat record id: 647997949

John Cowper Powys (1872-1963), English novelist and essayist, best known for his historical novels such as Wolf Solent (1929) and Weymouth Sands (1934). His Autobiography first appeared in 1934.

From the description of John Cowper Powys and Phyllis Playter letters to William Lander, 1950-1963. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 702180402

From the description of John Cowper Powys collection, [ca. 1930-1963]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 702137975

Welsh lecturer, author and poet.

From the description of John Cowper Powys papers, 1924-1963. (University of Michigan). WorldCat record id: 68796083

From the description of Papers, 1924-1963. (University of Michigan). WorldCat record id: 34365801

Author.

From the description of Edgar Lee Masters: an appreciation: manuscript article, undated. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 79449602

English novelist, poet, and critic.

From the description of Letters, 1931-1960. (University of Iowa Libraries). WorldCat record id: 233116970

John Cowper Powys, English essayist, novelist and poet, was born in Shirley, Derbyshire, England, on October 8, 1872. He received his education at Sherborne Preparatory School and later at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, where he earned his degreee in history.

In 1896 and 1899, Powys published two volumes of poetry, Odes and Other Poems and Poems, respectively. Then, for several years he was primarily occupied with lecturing, first for the Oxford and Cambridge Extension, for whom he gave his first American lecture in 1910, and later on his own.

In 1915 his first novel, Wood and Stone, appeared. Two years later, his third volume of poetry, Mandragora, was published in America, followed by Samphire in 1922. From that point on his prolific output of essays, novels and poems continued until 1980, his eighty-eighth year.

John Cowper Powys married Margaret Alice Lyon on April 9, 1898, and they had one child, a son. Powys died June 17, 1963.

From the guide to the John Cowper Powys Papers, 1890-1972, (Special Collections Research Center, Syracuse University Libraries)

Links to collections

Comparison

This is only a preview comparison of Constellations. It will only exist until this window is closed.

  • Added or updated
  • Deleted or outdated

Information

Permalink:
SNAC ID:

Subjects:

  • Authors, English
  • Authors, English
  • Authors, English
  • Authors, English
  • Authors, English
  • British literature
  • English literature
  • Poets, English
  • Folklore
  • Literature
  • Literature
  • Male authors, English
  • Novelists, English

Occupations:

  • Authors
  • Novelists
  • Poets

Places:

  • Dorset (England) (as recorded)
  • England (as recorded)

SNAC Cooperative Logo

Social Networks and Archival Context

SNAC is a discovery service for persons, families, and organizations found within archival collections at cultural heritage institutions.

Sponsors

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
Institute of Museum and Library Services
National Endowment for the Humanities

Hosts

University of Virginia Library
National Archives and Records Administration