John Beverley Nichols (9 September 1898 – 15 September 1983) was an English writer, playwright and public speaker. He wrote more than 60 books and plays.

Career

Between his first book, the novel, ''Prelude'' (1920) and his last, a book of poetry, ''Twilight'' (1982) Nichols wrote more than 60 books. In addition to fiction, essays, theatre scripts and children's books, he wrote non-fiction works on travel, politics, religion, cats, parapsychology, and autobiography. He contributed to many magazines and newspapers throughout his life, notably weekly columns for the London ''Sunday Chronicle'' newspaper (1932–1943) and ''

Woman's Own ''Woman's Own'' is a British lifestyle magazine aimed at women. Publication ''Woman's Own'' was first published in 1932 by Newnes. In its early years it placed women's rights and social problems firmly in the foreground. Its first "agony aunt" was ...

'' magazine (1946–1967). Nichols is best remembered for his books about his homes and gardens, the first of which, ''Down the Garden Path'' (1932), was illustrated by

Rex Whistler Reginald John "Rex" Whistler (24 June 190518 July 1944) was a British artist, who painted murals and society portraits, and designed theatrical costumes. He was killed in action in Normandy in World War II. Whistler was the brother of poet and ...

, as were its two sequels. It went through 32 editions and has remained in print almost continuously. The trilogy chronicled the difficulties and delights of maintaining a Tudor thatched cottage in

Glatton Glatton is a village and civil parish in Cambridgeshire, England, some south-west of Peterborough, near the villages of Conington, Yaxley and Stilton. It lies in the non-metropolitan district of Huntingdonshire, which is part of Cambridgesh ...

, Cambridgeshire, the village he fictionalised as Allways. The books are written in a poetic, richly creative style, evoking emotional and sensual responses, leavened with humour and irony. The three books were so popular that they led to humorous imitations, including ''Mon Repos'' (1934) by "Nicholas Bevel" (a parody by Muriel Hine) and ''Garden Rubbish'' (1936) by

W. C. Sellar Walter Carruthers Sellar (27 December 1898 – 11 June 1951) was a Scottish humourist who wrote for ''Punch''. He is best known for the 1930 book ''1066 and All That'', a tongue-in-cheek guide to "all the history you can remember," which he ...

and

R. J. Yeatman Robert Julian Yeatman (15 July 1897 – 13 July 1968) was a British humourist who wrote for ''Punch''. He is best known for the book '' 1066 and All That'', a tongue-in-cheek guide to "all the history you can remember", which he wrote with ...

, a satire on garden writers, which included a Nichols-like figure named "Knatchbull Twee." Nichols's next garden and home book was ''Green Grows the City'' (1939), about his modern house and urban garden near

Hampstead Heath Hampstead Heath (locally known simply as the Heath) is an ancient heath in London, spanning . This grassy public space sits astride a sandy ridge, one of the highest points in London, running from Hampstead to Highgate, which rests on a band o ...

, London. That book introduced Reginald Arthur Gaskin, Nichols's manservant from 1924 until Gaskin's death in January 1967. Gaskin was a popular character in the book and was included in Nichols' succeeding gardening books. A second trilogy (1951–1956) began with ''Merry Hall'', documenting Nichols's travails with his extravagant

Georgian Georgian may refer to: Common meanings * Anything related to, or originating from Georgia (country) ** Georgians, an indigenous Caucasian ethnic group ** Georgian language, a Kartvelian language spoken by Georgians **Georgian scripts, three scrip ...

manor in Agates Lane,

Ashtead Ashtead is a large village in the Mole Valley district of Surrey, England, approximately south of central London. Primarily a commuter settlement, Ashtead is on the single-carriageway A24 between Epsom and Leatherhead. The village is on ...

, Surrey (fictionalised as Meadowstream), where Nichols lived from 1946 to 1956. The books often featured his gifted but laconic gardener "Oldfield". Nichols's final trilogy (1963–1968) chronicled his adapting to a more modest living arrangement, beginning in 1958, in a late 18th-century attached cottage (''Sudbrook'') at

Ham Ham is pork from a leg cut of pork, cut that has been food preservation, preserved by wet or dry Curing (food preservation), curing, with or without smoking (cooking), smoking."Bacon: Bacon and Ham Curing" in ''Chambers's Encyclopædia''. Lo ...

, near

Richmond Richmond most often refers to: * Richmond, Virginia, the capital of Virginia, United States * Richmond, London, a part of London * Richmond, North Yorkshire, a town in England * Richmond, British Columbia, a city in Canada * Richmond, California, ...

Surrey Surrey () is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in South East England, bordering Greater London to the south west. Surrey has a large rural area, and several significant urban areas which form part of the Greater London Built-up Area. ...

. This was Nichols's final home and garden, where he lived for 25 years until his death in 1983. Nichols wrote on a wide range of subjects, always looking for "the next big thing". He ghostwrote

Dame Nellie Melba Dame Nellie Melba (born Helen Porter Mitchell; 19 May 186123 February 1931) was an Australian operatic dramatic coloratura soprano (three octaves). She became one of the most famous singers of the late Victorian era and the early 20th centur ...

's 1925 "autobiography" ''Memories and Melodies'' (he was at the time her personal secretary, and his 1933 book ''Evensong'' was believed to be based on aspects of her life). In 1934, Nichols wrote a bestseller advocating

pacifism Pacifism is the opposition or resistance to war, militarism (including conscription and mandatory military service) or violence. Pacifists generally reject theories of Just War. The word ''pacifism'' was coined by the French peace campaign ...

, ''Cry Havoc!'',Martin Ceadel, ''Pacifism in Britain, 1914–1945 : the defining of a faith''. Oxford : Clarendon Press, 1980. (p.239). but by 1938, he had abandoned his pacifism and supported the Allies in the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

. In 1966 he wrote ''A Case of Human Bondage'' about the marriage and divorce of writer

William Somerset Maugham William Somerset Maugham ( ; 25 January 1874 – 16 December 1965) was an English writer, known for his plays, novels and short stories. Born in Paris, where he spent his first ten years, Maugham was schooled in England and went to a German un ...

and his interior-decorator wife, Syrie, which was highly critical of Maugham. ''Father Figure'' (1972), in which Nichols described how he tried to murder his

alcoholic Alcoholism is, broadly, any drinking of alcohol that results in significant mental or physical health problems. Because there is disagreement on the definition of the word ''alcoholism'', it is not a recognized diagnostic entity. Predomin ...

, abusive father, caused uproar and calls for his prosecution. He was disappointed by the reception of a book of his about

spiritualism Spiritualism is the metaphysical school of thought opposing physicalism and also is the category of all spiritual beliefs/views (in monism and dualism) from ancient to modern. In the long nineteenth century, Spiritualism (when not lowercase) ...

. Nichols was also a competent mystery writer. His five detective novels (1954–1960) featured a middle-aged private detective of independent means called Horatio Green. Apart from authorship, Nichols's main interest was gardening, especially garden design and winter flowers. His many acquaintances in all walks of life included some famous gardeners, such as

Constance Spry Constance Spry (née Fletcher, previously Marr; 5 December 1886 – 3 January 1960) was a British educator, florist and author in the mid-20th century. Life Constance Fletcher was born in Derby in 1886, eldest child and only daughter of Geor ...

and Lord Aberconway, President of the

Royal Horticultural Society The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), founded in 1804 as the Horticultural Society of London, is the UK's leading gardening charity. The RHS promotes horticulture through its five gardens at Wisley (Surrey), Hyde Hall (Essex), Harlow Carr (Nort ...

and owner of

Bodnant Garden Bodnant Garden ( cy, Gardd Bodnant) is a National Trust property near Tal-y-Cafn, Conwy, Wales, overlooking the Conwy Valley towards the Carneddau mountains. Founded in 1874 and developed by five generations of one family, it was given to th ...

in North Wales. Nichols made one film appearance, in '' Glamour'' (1931), directed by

Seymour Hicks Sir Edward Seymour Hicks (30 January 1871 – 6 April 1949), better known as Seymour Hicks, was a British actor, music hall performer, playwright, actor-manager and producer. He became known, early in his career, for writing, starring in and p ...

and

Harry Hughes Harry Roe Hughes (November 13, 1926 – March 13, 2019) was an American politician from the Democratic Party who served as the 57th Governor of Maryland from 1979 to 1987. Early life and family Hughes was born in Easton, Maryland, the s ...

, playing the small part of the Hon. Richard Wells. The film is now lost.

Personal life

Nichols was at school at

Marlborough College Marlborough College is a Public school (United Kingdom), public school (English Independent school (United Kingdom), independent boarding school) for pupils aged 13 to 18 in Marlborough, Wiltshire, England. Founded in 1843 for the sons of Church ...

before proceeding to

Balliol College, Oxford Balliol College () is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. One of Oxford's oldest colleges, it was founded around 1263 by John I de Balliol, a landowner from Barnard Castle in County Durham, who provided the f ...

in January 1917. His education was interrupted by military service with the Intelligence section at the War Office, as an instructor to the Officer Cadet Battalion in Cambridge, and as aide-de-camp to

Arthur Shipley Sir Arthur Everett Shipley GBE FRS (10 March 1861 – 22 September 1927) was an English zoologist and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge. Biography Shipley was born in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey on 10 March 1861. He was brought up in ...

on the British University Mission to the United States. Nichols then returned to Oxford, where he was President of the

Oxford Union The Oxford Union Society, commonly referred to simply as the Oxford Union, is a debating society in the city of Oxford England, whose membership is drawn primarily from the University of Oxford. Founded in 1823, it is one of Britain's oldest ...

and editor of ''

Isis Isis (; ''Ēse''; ; Meroitic: ''Wos'' 'a''or ''Wusa''; Phoenician: 𐤀𐤎, romanized: ʾs) was a major goddess in ancient Egyptian religion whose worship spread throughout the Greco-Roman world. Isis was first mentioned in the Old Kingd ...

''. He was homosexual and is thought to have had a brief affair with the war poet

Siegfried Sassoon Siegfried Loraine Sassoon (8 September 1886 – 1 September 1967) was an English war poet, writer, and soldier. Decorated for bravery on the Western Front, he became one of the leading poets of the First World War. His poetry both describ ...

. Nichols's long-term companion was Cyril Butcher, the main beneficiary of Nichols's will, amounting to £131,750. Nichols died on 15 September 1983 and his ashes were scattered over St Nicholas' Churchyard,

, Cambridgeshire, England.

Selected bibliography

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Journalism

*''The Star Spangled Manner'' (1928), a series of interviews with the great and near-great of the United States

Gardening, homes and restoration

*''Down the Garden Path'' (1932) *''A Thatched Roof'' (1933) *''A Village in a Valley'' (1934) *''How Does Your Garden Grow?'' (1935) *''Green Grows the City'' (1939) *''Merry Hall'' (1951) *''Laughter on the Stairs'' (1953) *''Sunlight on the Lawn'' (1956) *''Garden Open Today'' (1963) *''Forty Favourite Flowers'' (1964) *''The Art of Flower Arrangement'' (1967) *''Garden Open Tomorrow'' (1968)

Novels

*''Prelude'' (1920) (reprinted in 2007 by Kessinger Publishing, ) *''Patchwork'' (1921) *''Self'' (1922) *''Crazy Pavements'' (1927) *''Evensong'' (1932), filmed in 1934 *''Revue'' (1939)

Mysteries

*''No Man's Street'' (1954) *''The Moonflower'' (1955) (a.k.a. The Moonflower Murder) *''Death to Slow Music'' (1956) *''The Rich Die Hard'' (1957) *''Murder by Request'' (1960)

Cats

*''Beverley Nichols' Cats A.B.C.'' (1960) *''Beverley Nichols' Cats X.Y.Z.'' (1961)

Religion

*''The Fool Hath Said'' (1936) *''A Pilgrim's Progress'' (1952)

Spiritualism

*''Powers That Be'' (1966) , valign=top ,

Plays

*''The Stag'' – produced 1929, published 1933 *''Avalanche'' – produced 1931, published 1933 *''When the Crash Comes'' – produced & published 1933 *''

Evensong Evensong is a church service traditionally held near sunset focused on singing psalms and other biblical canticles. In origin, it is identical to the canonical hour of vespers. Old English speakers translated the Latin word as , which became ...

'' – produced 1932, published 1933 *''Mesmer'' – produced 1935, published 1937 *''

Shadow of the Vine "Shadow of the Vine" is a 1962 Australian television play adapted from a 1949 play by Beverly Nichols. It was originally made for HSV-7 then presented as part of the '' General Motors Hour'' It was produced by Peter Cotes, who made four TV produc ...

'' – published 1949, produced 1954

Autobiographies

*''Twenty-Five'' (1926) *''All I Could Never Be'' (1949) *''The Sweet and Twenties'' (1958) *''Father Figure'' (1972) *''Down the Kitchen Sink'' (1974) *''The Unforgiving Minute'' (1978)

Political

*''Cry Havoc!'' (1933) *''News of England'' (1938) *''Verdict on India'' (1944) *''Men Do Not Weep'' (1941) *''Uncle Samsom'' (1950)

Biography

* ''Are They The Same at Home?'' (1927) 61 essays on friendships *''A Case of Human Bondage'' (1966)

Children's Books

*''The Tree that Sat Down'' (1945) *''The Stream that Stood Still'' (1948) *''The Mountain of Magic'' (1950) *''The Wickedest Witch in the World'' (1971)

Travel

*''No Place Like Home'' (1936) *''The Sun in My Eyes'' (1969)

In collaboration

* Butcher, Cyril. ''In Extremis, Worst Moments in the Lives of the Famous'' (1934), with a foreword by Beverley Nichols. *''Yours Sincerely'' (1947), in collaboration with

Monica Dickens Monica Enid Dickens, MBE (10 May 1915 – 25 December 1992) was an English writer, the great-granddaughter of Charles Dickens. Biography Known as "Monty" to her family and friends, she was born into an upper-middle-class London family to Henr ...

References

External links

Beverley Nichols papers
held a
University of Delaware

Beverley Nichols Collection
at the

Harry Ransom Center The Harry Ransom Center (until 1983 the Humanities Research Center) is an archive, library and museum at the University of Texas at Austin, specializing in the collection of literary and cultural artifacts from the Americas and Europe for the pur ...

Beverley Nichols: Conserving Moments from His 'Strange and Lovely Life'
(online exhibition), at th
University of Delaware
* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Nichols, Beverly 1898 births 1983 deaths Alumni of Balliol College, Oxford English short story writers English gardeners British garden writers People educated at Marlborough College Presidents of the Oxford Union LGBT dramatists and playwrights English LGBT novelists British male dramatists and playwrights English male short story writers English male novelists 20th-century English novelists 20th-century English dramatists and playwrights 20th-century British short story writers 20th-century English male writers 20th-century LGBT people English garden writers