| Admin History | Henry Williamson (1895-1977), writer, was born in south London and educated at Colfe's Grammar School, Lewisham. He fought in the army in the First World War and gained a deep sense of the futility of conflict as a result. He worked as a journalist for a short while before writing his first novel, 'The Beautiful Years', in 1921. This became volume one of a quartet, named 'The Flax of Dreams'. At the same time he moved to North Devon and, in 1927, wrote there 'Tarka the Otter', the book on which his fame most heavily rests, and 'A Patriot's Progress' (1930), based on his trench experiences. 'After Salar the Salmon' (1935) he became an outspoken supporter of German reform and British fascism, which led to his being briefly interned at the start of the war. His postwar work, which is arguably his most important, is a cycle of fifteen novels entitled, 'A Chronicle of Ancient Sunlight', which was completed in 1960.
The Watkins were close friends of Williamson, who invited their comments on his books whilst they were still in draft form. The Watkins had become acquainted with Williamson in 1922, when Eric had written to Williamson following the publication of 'Dandelion Days'. Williamson dedicated one of the volumes of 'The Chronicle of Ancient Sunlight' to the couple. The Watkins lived first of all in Streatham as Eric worked as a sub-editor for the 'News Chronicle' on Fleet Street. They then moved to Petts Wood, Kent, where Williamson was a frequent visitor. Kathleen was a keen amateur writer, with some of her poems for children published in 'Nursery World' and 'Child Education'. |