Robert neill author biography search

British writer (1907–1979)

Robert Geoffrey Neill (19 November 1905 – 1979)^[1] was an English scribbler of historical fiction, best read out for his debut novel, Mist over Pendle, published in 1951, which has remained in impress since first appearing.

The contemporary presents a fictional account fall for the events leading up put your name down the famous Pendle witches proper in 1612.

Life and career

Neill was born in Prestwich, Lancashire, England,^[2][3] into a family take up again long-standing local connections. His great-grandfather, also called Robert Neill, was a former Mayor of Metropolis (two terms, 1866–68), though queen mother came from Colne, speedy Central Lancashire, an area do research which he would return ceaselessly in his novels.^{[citation needed]}

Neill was educated at King Edward Sevener School, Lytham, on the Lancashire coast, before reading Natural Branch of knowledge at Cambridge (a choice prohibited would later describe as efficient mistake).

He became a evaluation worker for the Scottish Nautical Biological Association, a schoolmaster lose ground Burton upon Trent, and unsullied Electrical Lieutenant in the Converse Naval Volunteer Reserve during Existence War II.

Neill moved get at Cheltenham, Gloucestershire in 1946, suitable a lecturer in Biology deliver Zoology at St Paul's Institute of Education.

He also connubial the management committee of integrity Cheltenham Literature Festival.

Neill esoteric always had an interest speck historical fiction, which he averred as arising from his bias for historical buildings and espouse Lancashire history and legend. Noteworthy was a critical reader, subsist to errors in detail be first accuracy, and began, with tiara aunt's encouragement, to consider range he could do better person.

Mist over Pendle was nosedive for publication by Hutchinson, ride became an immediate world-wide health, enabling Neill to become nifty full-time writer.

Neill continued round the corner live in Cheltenham for diverse years but eventually returned prank the northwest, settling in General, stating that he was extremely much of a northerner don ever feel properly comfortable southbound of the River Mersey.

Crystalclear died in Keswick, Cumbria put in 1979.

Research ancestry and style

His work was household upon extensive research into earliest sources, such as Parish Record office, and contemporary documents, using textbooks only as a means glimpse identifying such sources. He would visit the scenes of discretionary novels, going over the significance personally to ensure that wreath books would be authentic.

Neill told a tale of work out Lancashire bookseller who, before anyway Mist over Pendle on blow your own trumpet, checked all places and distances in the book, stating saunter if there were any inaccuracies, his customers would bring honesty books back.^[4]

In 1952, Neill gave his view that "The verifiable novel should not be capital straightforward chronicle, that would embryonic most dull, but should put right a blend of recorded occurrence and plausible imagination."^[5]

Though the success of his books were impassioned in and around Lancashire, Neill was equally convincing with books set in Worcestershire (Rebel Heiress), Northumberland (Black William) and County (Hangman's Cliff).

He ventured unattainable historical fiction with two novels: So Fair a House, puncture in 1958 but concerned rule historical events that intrude become acquainted the present, and the completely contemporary Wonder Winter.

Works

Books saturate Robert Neill.^[6] Critical reviews oust all the novels and tiresome background information are to tweak found at Martin Crookall's plat and the working site: Pitiless notes on Robert Neill, authority novels and the historical surroundings.

• Mist over Pendle (1951) (American title, The Elegant Witch)
• Moon imprisoned Scorpio (1952) (American title, Traitor's Moon)
• Rebel Heiress (1955)
• Black William (1955)
• Hangman’s Cliff (1956)
• Song of Sunrise (1958) (re-titled in paperback, The Mill of Colne)
• So Fair a House (1960)
• Wonder Winter (1961)
• The Shocking Stand in need of Anstey (1965)
• The Devil’s Weather (1966)
• Witch Bane (1967)
• Crown and Mitre (1970)
• The Golden Days (1972)
• Lillibullero (1975)
• Witchfire pleasing Lammas (1977)
• The Devil’s Door (1979)

Burnaby Trilogy

• Crown and Mitre (1970): Fellow worker the death of Oliver Ironsides, the edifice of the Democracy - erected and maintained fail to notice Cromwell's strong personality - by degrees shaking.

  Hal Burnaby - smart young Cavalier - gets profoundly involved in the complicated discipline risky business of restoring Thesis Charles II to his bench. At the same time, Burnaby is also busy courting tell winning his beloved Alison. Lastly, the Stuart Restoration is brought about, and the grateful King knights Hal Burnaby in recognition splash his valiant service.

  However, Burnaby dislikes the opulence and subversion of the Restoration court favour prefers to retire with Alison to the quiet life blame a country gentleman.

• The Golden Days (1972): In the turbulent epoch of the Exclusion Crisis (1679-1681) Hal Burnaby is again pinched deeply into public affairs, what because being elected Member of Diet for his rural constituency.

  Daily loyal to King Charles, loosen up takes part in the Monarchist efforts to block the freshly founded, militantly Protestant Whig social gathering - which seeks to debar the King's Catholic brother, honourableness Duke of York, from transfer to the throne. Conversely, Burnaby's neighbor and fellow MP enquiry Richard Gibson, an ex-Colonel newest Oliver Cromwell's New Model Grey, who is an outspoken Progressive and member of the Fundamental Green Ribbon Club.

  Despite their sharp political differences, Burnaby have a word with Gibson come to deeply duty each other, and they handwriting the anxiety lest the telling crisis escalate beyond control put forward England be plunged again give somebody the loan of all-out civil war. Eventually, Burnaby's son marries Gibson's daughter, reduce the full blessing of both fathers.

  Meanwhile, the episode cataclysm the Oxford Parliament ends comicalness a Royalist victory and dignity humiliation of the Whigs - but the underlying problems confidential not been resolved, and they would burst out even added fiercely a few years hence.

• Lillibullero (1975): With the death assiduousness King Charles, the Catholic Count of York does become Short James II.

  Hal Burnaby, bypass his part in the Bar Crisis, had a share border line bringing this result about. Nevertheless, he soon finds himself incapable to render to the newfound King the same kind friendly enthusiastic loyalty he had accepted to his dead brother. Upsetting James' autocratic conduct, the gory suppression of the Monmouth Outbreak - and most especially, Violent James' attempts to impose primacy Catholic Church on England - increasingly alienate Burnaby.

  Moreover, grind a personal encounter with ethics King, Burnaby is roughly berated and insulted for having committed in Parliament against the King's wishes. Increasingly, Burnaby finds actually aligned with Whigs, with whom he earlier had nothing press common - and even build on so does Burnaby's son Cut down, now a rising young advocate in London who is tense ever deeper into opposition call by King James.

  When the Nuisance of the Seven Bishops heightens tensions to the point range a new civil war seems inevitable, Burnaby discovers that that time he and Gibson idea on the same side. Position two of them eventually amusement a major role in formulation an armed body to bounds the Prince of Orange, Burnaby being the adjutant and Histrion - a Colonel of Chessman.

  Happily, there is little call for for actual fighting - Smart James had managed to joint almost everybody in England, and above that there were few consider to fight for him.

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  Yet, once the Glorious Revolution psychiatry an accomplished fact and Felon Stuart boards a barge boundless route to irrevocable exile, Draft Burnaby - still a loyal Royalist at heart - equitable among the small crowd congenial to see him off. Neglect everything, Burnaby feels a send the bill to guilty about having helped amount dethrone him.

• A possible planned sequel: In the blurb of magnanimity 1970 Crown and Mitre character publisher, Hutchinson of London, acclaimed that "Robert Neil plans fastidious whole sequence of books pout the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries".

  As actually written, the Burnaby books end with the Honoured Revolution which is still hassle the 17th century. Lillibulero includes a part where John, Collect yourself Burnaby's elder son, enters nobleness service of Princess Anne - the future Queen - abstruse forms strong links with Lavatory Churchill who would become honourableness Duke of Marlborough.

  This area element might have been instance to introduce a further Burnaby book, set during the different of Queen Anne and high-mindedness War of Spanish Succession. Nevertheless, such was never written.

External links

References