Bax , Clifford , 1886-1962 , author and dramatist

Born 1886; studied art at the Slade School and Heatherley's; Chairman of the Incorporated Stage Society, 1929; abandoned painting to concentrate upon literary and dramatic work; first play to be produced commercially was 'The Poetasters of Ispahan', 1912; subsequent productions were 'Polly', with music by Frederick Austin, 1923; 'The Insect Play', adapted in collaboration with Nigel Playfair, 1923; 'Midsummer Madness', with music by Armstrong Gibbs, 1924; 'Mr Pepys', with music by Martin Shaw, 1926; 'Waterloo Leave', with music by Martin Shaw, 1928; 'Socrates', 1930; 'The Venetian', 1931; 'The Immortal Lady', 1931; 'The Rose without a Thorn', 1932; 'The House of Borgia', 1935; also produced several anthologies of his own and others' poetry, biographies, volumes of short stories, and memoirs; died 1962. Publications: include Twenty-five Chinese Poems (W Budd & Co, London, 1910); Shakespeare. A play in five episodes with Harold Frederick Rubinstein (Benn Bros, London, 1921); Midsummer Madness. A play for music (London, 1923); Inland Far. A book of thoughts and impressions (William Heinemann, London, 1925); Mr Pepys. A ballad-opera (William Heinemann, London, 1926); Many a Green Isle (William Heinemann, London, 1927) [short stories]; Socrates. A play in six scenes (Victor Gollancz, London, 1930); Twelve Short Plays, serious and comic (Victor Gollancz, London, 1932); Leonardo da Vinci (Peter Davies, London, 1932); Pretty Witty Nell. An account of Nell Gwynn and her environment (Chapman and Hall, London, 1932); Farewell, My Muse (Lovat Dickson, London, 1932) [collected poems]; Ideas and People (Lovat Dickson, London, 1936); Highways and Byways in Essex (Macmillan and Co, 1939); The Life of the White Devil [A biography of Vittoria Orsini, Duchess of Bracciano] (Cassel and Co, London, 1940); Evenings in Albany (Eyre & Spottiswoode, London, 1942); Time with a Gift of Tears. A modern romance (Eyre & Spottiswoode, London, 1943) [novel]; The Beauty of Women (Frederick Muller, London, 1946); Golden Eagle. A drama (Home & Van Thal, London, 1946); The Silver Casket. Being love-letters and love-poems attributed to Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots (Home & Van Thal, London, 1946); Hemlock for Eight. A radio play with L M Lion (Frederick Muller, London, 1946); The Buddha. A radio version of his life and ideas (Victor Gollancz, London, 1947); Rosemary for Remembrance (Frederick Muller, London, 1948); Circe. A play in three acts (Frederick Muller, London, 1949); The Distaff Muse. An anthology of poetry written by women with Meum Stewart (Hollis & Carter, London, 1949); Some I knew well (Phoenix House, London, 1951); W G Grace (Phoenix House, London, 1952).