L. P. Hartley

L. P. Hartley
source
Name	L. P. Hartley
Birth date	December 30, 1895
Birth place	Peterborough, England
Death date	December 13, 1972
Death place	London, England
Occupation	Novelist, Short story writer
Nationality	British
Notableworks	The Go-Between, The Brickfield

L. P. Hartley was a renowned British novelist and short story writer, best known for his novel The Go-Between, which was adapted into a film by Joseph Losey and Harold Pinter. Hartley's works often explored the complexities of English society, particularly in the Edwardian era, as seen in the writings of E. M. Forster and D. H. Lawrence. His literary career spanned several decades, during which he was associated with notable figures such as Virginia Woolf, Evelyn Waugh, and Graham Greene. Hartley's writing was also influenced by the works of Henry James and Fyodor Dostoevsky.

● Life and Career

L. P. Hartley was born in Peterborough, England, and educated at Harrow School and Balliol College, Oxford, where he developed a strong interest in literature and history, much like his contemporaries Aldous Huxley and C. S. Lewis. After serving in World War I, Hartley began his writing career, publishing his first novel, Night Fears, in 1924, which was followed by The Killing Bottle in 1932. He was a member of the London literary circle, which included notable writers such as W. H. Auden, Stephen Spender, and Christopher Isherwood. Hartley's experiences during World War II, including his work with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), had a significant impact on his writing, as seen in the works of George Orwell and Graham Greene.

● Literary Works

Hartley's literary output was diverse, ranging from novels and short stories to essays and reviews, which were published in various literary magazines, including The London Magazine and The Spectator. His writing often explored themes of social class, morality, and psychology, as seen in the works of Jane Austen and The Brontë sisters. Hartley was also interested in the supernatural and fantasy, as evident in his short story collections, such as The Travelling Grave and The White Wand. His writing was influenced by the works of Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, and Thomas Hardy, and he was associated with notable literary movements, including Modernism and Realism.

● Style and Themes

Hartley's writing style was characterized by his use of lyrical prose, symbolism, and irony, as seen in the works of James Joyce and Virginia Woolf. His novels often explored the complexities of human relationships, particularly in the context of English society, as depicted in the works of Anthony Trollope and Elizabeth Gaskell. Hartley's themes were also influenced by his interests in philosophy, particularly the works of Friedrich Nietzsche and Søren Kierkegaard, and psychology, as seen in the works of Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung. His writing was also shaped by his experiences during World War I and World War II, as well as his associations with notable figures such as Winston Churchill and George Bernard Shaw.

● Major Novels

Hartley's most famous novel, The Go-Between, published in 1953, is a classic of English literature, exploring themes of social class, morality, and coming of age, as seen in the works of Jane Eyre and Great Expectations. Other notable novels include The Brickfield and The Hireling, which were adapted into films by Alfred Hitchcock and Joseph Losey. Hartley's novels were often compared to those of E. M. Forster and D. H. Lawrence, and he was associated with the Bloomsbury Group, a circle of intellectuals and artists that included Virginia Woolf, Evelyn Waugh, and Graham Greene. His novels were also influenced by the works of Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, and Flaubert, and he was interested in the literary movements of Modernism and Realism.

● Legacy and Impact

L. P. Hartley's legacy as a novelist and short story writer continues to be felt, with his works remaining popular among readers and scholars alike, particularly in the context of English literature and literary history. His writing has been compared to that of Henry James and Edith Wharton, and he has been praised for his insightful portrayals of English society and human relationships, as seen in the works of Anthony Powell and Evelyn Waugh. Hartley's influence can be seen in the works of later writers, such as Ian McEwan and Hilary Mantel, and his novels continue to be adapted into films and television dramas, including productions by the BBC and ITV. His writing has also been recognized with numerous literary awards, including the James Tait Black Memorial Prize and the Heinemann Award, and he remains a significant figure in the literary canon of 20th-century literature.