E. F. Benson
E.F. Benson: A Master of Humor and Satire
Full Name and Common Aliases
Edward Frederic Benson was a British author, known to his friends as "Fred" and widely recognized by his initials.
Birth and Death Dates
Benson was born on July 24, 1867, in Kingston upon Thames, England. He passed away on February 29, 1940, at the age of 72.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Benson was a British author of humor, satire, and literary criticism. His writing often reflected his experiences as a member of the upper-middle class and his observations on social norms during the late Victorian era and early 20th century.
Early Life and Background
E.F. Benson grew up in a family that valued education and literature. He was the second son of Edward White Benson, who later became Archbishop of Canterbury. As a child, Benson showed a keen interest in writing and storytelling. His family's social connections provided him with opportunities to meet prominent figures of the time.
Benson attended Eton College and then Trinity College, Cambridge, where he studied history. After completing his education, he traveled extensively throughout Europe, developing a deep appreciation for art, architecture, and literature. In 1892, Benson married Winifred Buxton, with whom he had four children.
Major Accomplishments
Benson's writing career spanned several decades and numerous genres. He is perhaps best known for his novels of manners, which satirized the social conventions of his time. His most famous works include:
_Dodo_ (1893), a novel that explores themes of identity, morality, and the search for meaning.
_The Freaks_ (1905), a collection of short stories that showcase Benson's ability to craft engaging characters and plotlines.
Benson also wrote several collections of essays and criticism on literature and art. His witty observations and insightful commentary earned him recognition as a leading voice in British literary circles.
Notable Works or Actions
In addition to his writing, Benson was an accomplished musician. He played the piano and composed music for both solo performances and orchestras. His love of music often influenced his writing, with many characters reflecting his passion for the arts.
Benson's personal life was also marked by significant events. In 1928, he married Margaret Sinclair, a woman nearly 20 years younger than him, sparking controversy among his friends and family. The union remained happy despite the societal pressures they faced.
Impact and Legacy
E.F. Benson's impact on literature is undeniable. His novels of manners helped shape the genre and influence later authors such as P.G. Wodehouse and Evelyn Waugh. Benson's writing style, which blended humor with social commentary, continues to appeal to readers today.
Benson's legacy extends beyond his literary contributions. He was a true Renaissance man, whose interests and passions encompassed art, music, and literature. His commitment to education and personal growth inspired those around him, leaving a lasting impression on the people he met during his lifetime.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Benson's writing is still widely read today due to its timeless humor, insightful commentary on social norms, and engaging characters. His ability to craft witty dialogue and observations has made him a beloved figure in British literary history.
In conclusion, E.F. Benson was a multifaceted individual whose contributions extend far beyond his written works. As an author, musician, and advocate for education, he left an indelible mark on the world of literature and beyond.
Quotes by E. F. Benson
There is no reason to suppose that taste is in any way a lower sense than the other four; a fine palate is as much a gift as an eye that discerns beauty or an ear that appreciates and enjoys subtle harmonies of sound, and we are quite right to value the pleasures that all our senses give us and educate their perceptions.
The greedy man is he who habitually eats too much, knowing that he is injuring his bodily health thereby, and this is a vice to which not the gourmet but the gourmand is a slave.
What man is there, surrounded though he be with the love of wife and children, who does not retain a memory of the romantic affection of boys for each other? Having felt it, he could scarcely have forgotten it, and if he never felt it, he missed one of the most golden of the prizes of youth, unrecapturable in mature life.
To most boys with growing limbs and swelling sinews, physical activity is a natural instinct, and there is no need to drive them into the football field or the fives court: they go there because they like it, and there is no need to make games compulsory for them.
Queen Victoria did not regard art, letters, or music as in any way springing from national character: they were something quite apart, elegant decorations resembling a scarf or a bracelet, and in no way expressive of the soul of the country.
All the teaching I had ever received had failed to make me apply such intelligence as I was possessed of, directly and vividly: there had never been any sunshine, as regards language, in the earlier grey days of learning, for the sky had always pelted with gerunds and optatives.
Taste is one of the five senses, and the man who tells us with priggish pride that he does not care what he eats is merely boasting of his sad deficiency: he might as well be proud of being deaf or blind, or, owing to a perpetual cold in the head, of being devoid of the sense of smell.
Rightly or wrongly, the Victorian considered that there were certain subjects which were not meet for inter-sexual discussion, just as they held that certain processes of the feminine toilet, like the powdering of the nose and the application of lipstick to the mouth, were (if done at all) better done in private.
Young gentlemen with literary aspirations usually start a new university magazine, which for wit and pungency is designed to eclipse all such previous efforts, and I was no exception in the matter of this popular gambit.
Queen Victoria was a woman of peerless common sense; her common sense, which is a rare gift at any time, amounted to genius. She had been brought up by her mother with the utmost simplicity, and she retained it to the end, and conducted her public and private life alike by that infallible guide.