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Elaine Morgan OBE,
FRSL The Royal Society of Literature (RSL) is a learned society founded in 1820, by George IV of the United Kingdom, King George IV, to "reward literary merit and excite literary talent". A charity that represents the voice of literature in the UK, th ...
(7 November 1920 – 12 July 2013), was a Welsh writer for television and the author of several books on
evolutionary anthropology Evolutionary anthropology, the interdisciplinary study of the evolution of human physiology and human behaviour and of the relation between hominids and non-hominid primates, builds on natural science and on social science. Various fields and ...
. She advocated the
aquatic ape hypothesis The aquatic ape hypothesis (AAH), also referred to as aquatic ape theory (AAT) or the waterside hypothesis of human evolution, postulates that the ancestors of modern humans took a divergent evolutionary pathway from the other great apes by becom ...
, which she advocated as a corrective to what she saw as theories that purveyed gendered stereotypes and so failed to take adequate account of women's role in
human evolution Human evolution is the evolutionary process within the history of primates that led to the emergence of ''Homo sapiens'' as a distinct species of the hominid family, which includes the great apes. This process involved the gradual development of ...
. '' The Descent of Woman'', published in 1972, became an international bestseller, translated into ten languages. In 2016, she was named as one of "the 50 greatest Welsh men and women of all time" in a press survey.


Personal life

Elaine Floyd was born and brought up in
Hopkinstown Hopkinstown ( cy, Trehopcyn) is a small village to the west of Pontypridd in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales, alongside the River Rhondda. Hopkinstown is a former coalmining and industrial community, now a district in the town of Po ...
, near
Pontypridd () (colloquially: Ponty) is a town and a community in Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales. Geography comprises the electoral wards of , Hawthorn, Pontypridd Town, 'Rhondda', Rhydyfelin Central/Ilan ( Rhydfelen), Trallwng (Trallwn) and Treforest (). The ...
, in
Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the Wales–England border, east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the ...
. Her father was a coal miner. She lived for many years until her death, in
Mountain Ash Mountain ash may refer to: * ''Eucalyptus regnans'', the tallest of all flowering plants, native to Australia * Mountain-ashes or rowans, varieties of trees and shrubs in the genus ''Sorbus'' See also * Mountain Ash, Rhondda Cynon Taf Mountai ...
, near
Aberdare Aberdare ( ; cy, Aberdâr) is a town in the Cynon Valley area of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales, at the confluence of the Rivers Dare (Dâr) and Cynon. Aberdare has a population of 39,550 (mid-2017 estimate). Aberdare is south-west of Merthyr Tyd ...
. She graduated from
Lady Margaret Hall Lady Margaret Hall (LMH) is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England, located on the banks of the River Cherwell at Norham Gardens in north Oxford and adjacent to the University Parks. The college is more formall ...
,
Oxford Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the ...
, with a degree in English. She married Morien Morgan, a veteran of the Spanish Civil War who died in 1997, and they had three sons, the oldest being
Dylan Morgan John Dylan Morgan (3 May 1946 – 5 March 2011) was a Welsh mathematician, physicist, hypnotherapist and author. He developed a theoretical approach to hypnotherapy which he published in his book ''Principles of Hypnotherapy''. He also made contr ...
.


Writing

Elaine Morgan began writing in the 1950s after winning a competition in the ''
New Statesman The ''New Statesman'' is a British political and cultural magazine published in London. Founded as a weekly review of politics and literature on 12 April 1913, it was at first connected with Sidney and Beatrice Webb and other leading members ...
'', successfully publishing, then joining the
BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board exam. ...
...
when it began to produce her plays for television. Her works included popular dramas, newspaper columns, and a series of publications on
evolutionary anthropology Evolutionary anthropology, the interdisciplinary study of the evolution of human physiology and human behaviour and of the relation between hominids and non-hominid primates, builds on natural science and on social science. Various fields and ...
. Her first book, ''The Descent of Woman'', published in 1972, became an international bestseller translated into ten languages. The book drew attention to what she saw as
sexism Sexism is prejudice or discrimination based on one's sex or gender. Sexism can affect anyone, but it primarily affects women and girls.There is a clear and broad consensus among academic scholars in multiple fields that sexism refers primari ...
inherent in the prevalent savannah-based " killer ape" theories of human evolution as presented in popular anthropological works by
Robert Ardrey Robert Ardrey (October 16, 1908 – January 14, 1980) was an American playwright, screenwriter and science writer perhaps best known for ''The Territorial Imperative'' (1966). After a Broadway and Hollywood career, he returned to his academic tr ...
,
Lionel Tiger Lionel Tiger (born February 5, 1937) is a Canadian-American anthropologist. He is the Charles Darwin Professor of Anthropology at Rutgers University and co-Research Director of the Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation. Early life and education Born ...
and others. She argued that such "
Tarzan Tarzan (John Clayton II, Viscount Greystoke) is a fictional character, an archetypal feral child raised in the African jungle by the Mangani great apes; he later experiences civilization, only to reject it and return to the wild as a heroic adv ...
ist" anthropological narratives purveyed gendered stereotypes of women that failed to take adequate account of women's role in human evolution. ''The Aquatic Ape'' (1982), ''The Scars of Evolution'' (1990), ''The Descent of the Child'' (1994), ''The Aquatic Ape Hypothesis'' (1997) and ''The Naked Darwinist'' (2008) all explored her alternative account of human evolution in more detail. She also published ''Falling Apart: the Rise and Decline of Urban Civilization'' in 1976, and in 2005 ''Pinker's List'', a critique of
Steven Pinker Steven Arthur Pinker (born September 18, 1954) is a Canadian-American cognitive psychologist, psycholinguist, popular science author, and public intellectual. He is an advocate of evolutionary psychology and the computational theory of mind. P ...
's ''
The Blank Slate ''The Blank Slate: The Modern Denial of Human Nature'' is a best-selling 2002 book by the cognitive psychologist Steven Pinker, in which the author makes a case against tabula rasa models in the social sciences, arguing that human behavior is s ...
''. Morgan wrote for many television series, including the adaptations of ''
How Green Was My Valley ''How Green Was My Valley'' is a 1939 novel by Richard Llewellyn, narrated by Huw Morgan, the main character, about his Welsh family and the mining community in which they live. The author had claimed that he based the book on his own persona ...
'' (1975), '' Off to Philadelphia in the Morning'' (1978) and ''
Testament of Youth ''Testament of Youth'' is the first instalment, covering 1900–1925, in the memoir of Vera Brittain (1893–1970). It was published in 1933. Brittain's memoir continues with ''Testament of Experience'', published in 1957, and encompassing th ...
'' (1979). Her other work included episodes of ''
Dr. Finlay's Casebook ''Dr. Finlay's Casebook'' is a television drama series that was produced and broadcast by the BBC from 1962 until 1971. Based on A. J. Cronin's 1935 novella ''Country Doctor'', the storylines centred on a general medical practice in the fictiona ...
'' (1963–1970), the biographical drama ''
The Life and Times of David Lloyd George ''The Life and Times of David Lloyd George'' is a BBC Wales drama serial first broadcast in 1981 on BBC Two. It stars Philip Madoc as David Lloyd George, the final Liberal prime minister of the UK. The cast also includes Lisabeth Miles, Kika ...
'' (1981) and contributions to the '' Campion'' (1989) series. She won two BAFTAs and two Writers' Guild awards. She also wrote the script for the ''
Horizon The horizon is the apparent line that separates the surface of a celestial body from its sky when viewed from the perspective of an observer on or near the surface of the relevant body. This line divides all viewing directions based on whether i ...
'' documentary about the disabled fund-raiser
Joey Deacon Joseph John Deacon (24 May 1920 – 3 December 1981) was a British author and television personality. Biography Deacon was born with severe cerebral palsy, a neurological condition that left him with neuromuscular spasticity that particul ...
, winning the
Prix Italia The Prix Italia is an international Television, Radio-broadcasting and Web award. It was established in 1948 by RAI – Radiotelevisione Italiana (in 1948, RAI had the denomination RAI – Radio Audizioni Italiane) in Capri and is honoured with the ...
in 1975. She was honoured with the Writer of the Year Award from the
Royal Television Society The Royal Television Society (RTS) is a British-based educational charity for the discussion, and analysis of television in all its forms, past, present, and future. It is the oldest television society in the world. It currently has fourteen r ...
for her serialisation of
Vera Brittain Vera Mary Brittain (29 December 1893 – 29 March 1970) was an English Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD) nurse, writer, feminist, socialist and pacifist. Her best-selling 1933 memoir ''Testament of Youth'' recounted her experiences during the First ...
's ''
Testament of Youth ''Testament of Youth'' is the first instalment, covering 1900–1925, in the memoir of Vera Brittain (1893–1970). It was published in 1933. Brittain's memoir continues with ''Testament of Experience'', published in 1957, and encompassing th ...
'' (1979). In 2003 Morgan started a weekly column for the Welsh daily '' The Western Mail'', which won her the 2011 award of Columnist of the Year in the Society of Editors' Regional Press Awards. She was awarded an honorary
D.Litt. Doctor of Letters (D.Litt., Litt.D., Latin: ' or ') is a terminal degree in the humanities that, depending on the country, is a higher doctorate after the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree or equivalent to a higher doctorate, such as the Doctor ...
by
Glamorgan University , image_name = University of Glamorgan arms.png , image_size = 220px , caption = University of Glamorgan coat of arms , motto = Success Through Endeavour , established = , closed = , administrative_staff = , chancellor = John Morris ...
in December 2006, an honorary fellowship of the
University of Cardiff , latin_name = , image_name = Shield of the University of Cardiff.svg , image_size = 150px , caption = Coat of arms of Cardiff University , motto = cy, Gwirionedd, Undod a Chytgord , mottoeng = Truth, Unity and Concord , established = 1 ...
in 2007, and the Letten F. Saugstad Prize for her "contribution to scientific knowledge". Morgan was appointed
Officer of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...
(OBE) in the 2009 Birthday Honours for services to literature and education. She became a Fellow of the
Royal Society of Literature The Royal Society of Literature (RSL) is a learned society founded in 1820, by George IV of the United Kingdom, King George IV, to "reward literary merit and excite literary talent". A charity that represents the voice of literature in the UK, th ...
the same year, and an honorary freeman of
Rhondda Cynon Taf Rhondda Cynon Taf (; RCT; also spelt as Rhondda Cynon Taff) is a county borough in the south-east of Wales. It consists of five valleys: the Rhondda Fawr, Rhondda Fach, Cynon, Taff (Welsh: ''Taf'') and Ely valleys, plus a number of towns and vil ...
in April 2013.


Aquatic ape hypothesis

Morgan has promoted a version of the
aquatic ape hypothesis The aquatic ape hypothesis (AAH), also referred to as aquatic ape theory (AAT) or the waterside hypothesis of human evolution, postulates that the ancestors of modern humans took a divergent evolutionary pathway from the other great apes by becom ...
, which proposes that human evolution had an "aquatic phase" in the
Miocene The Miocene ( ) is the first geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from about (Ma). The Miocene was named by Scottish geologist Charles Lyell; the name comes from the Greek words (', "less") and (', "new") and means "less recen ...
or
Pliocene The Pliocene ( ; also Pleiocene) is the epoch in the geologic time scale that extends from 5.333 million to 2.58 Morgan's work has received warm comments from several prominent people. Philosopher
Daniel Dennett Daniel Clement Dennett III (born March 28, 1942) is an American philosopher, writer, and cognitive scientist whose research centers on the philosophy of mind, philosophy of science, and philosophy of biology, particularly as those fields relat ...
wrote of the criticisms of her: And in a BBC/Discovery Channel Documentary, the South African anthropologist
Phillip V. Tobias Phillip Vallentine Tobias (14 October 1925 – 7 June 2012) was a South African palaeoanthropologist and Professor Emeritus at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. He was best known for his work at South Africa's hominid fossil ...
said: In 2000 Morgan was awarded the Letten F Saugstad prize in Oslo for her "contribution to scientific knowledge" and in December 2008 she was admitted as a Fellow of the
Linnean Society The Linnean Society of London is a learned society dedicated to the study and dissemination of information concerning natural history, evolution, and taxonomy. It possesses several important biological specimen, manuscript and literature colle ...
, following in the footsteps of Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace.


Death and legacy

Morgan died at the age of 92 on 12 July 2013. Welsh author Trevor Fishlock described her in an obituary as a writer "who brought out the flavour of Wales." In 2019, Morgan was one of five women on a shortlist for a Cardiff statue. In 2020, to commemorate the centenary of her birth, two complementary biographies of her life were published. The Welsh historian Daryl Leeworthy wrote one focusing on her earlier career as a writer and Algis Kuliukas wrote one emphasising more her "aquatic ape" work. On 18 March 2022 a statue of her by Emma Rodgers was installed outside the Tŷ Calon Lân Medical Centre in Mountain Ash, Rhondda Cynon Taf, as part of the Monumental Welsh Women project.


Works

Morgan's earlier works as a playwright include: *''The Waiting Room: A Play for Women in One Act'' (Samuel French Ltd, 1958) *''Rest You Merry: A Christmas Play in Two Acts'' (Samuel French Ltd, 1959) *''Eli'r Teulu: Comedi Dair Act'' (Gwasg Aberystwyth, 1960) *''The Soldier and the Woman: A Play in One Act'' (Samuel French Ltd, 1961) *''Licence to Murder: A Play in Two Acts'' (Samuel French Ltd, 1963) *''A Chance to Shine: A Play in One Act'' (Samuel French Ltd, 1964) *''Love from Liz'' (Samuel French Ltd, 1967) Morgan's books on human evolution include: *''The Descent of Woman'', 1972, Souvenir Press, *''The Aquatic Ape'', 1982, Souvenir Press, *''The Scars of Evolution'', 1990, Souvenir Press, *''The Descent of the Child: Human Evolution from a New Perspective'', 1995, Oxford University Press, *''The Aquatic Ape Hypothesis'', 1997, Souvenir Press, *''The Naked Darwinist'', 2008, Eildon Press, Other works: *An essay "The Escape Route", also on Hardy Theory *''Falling Apart: The Rise and Decline of Urban Civilisation'', 1976, Souvenir Press Ltd *''Pinker's List'', 2005, Eildon Press, *Autobiography ''Knock 'Em Cold, Kid'', 2012, Troubador Press,


References


Biographies

* * *Entry o
Elaine Neville Morgan
in The Dictionary of Welsh Biography (National Museum of Wales) {{DEFAULTSORT:Morgan, Elaine 1920 births 2013 deaths 20th-century Welsh dramatists and playwrights 20th-century Welsh writers 21st-century Welsh writers 20th-century Welsh women writers 21st-century Welsh women writers Alumni of Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford BAFTA winners (people) Fellows of the Royal Society of Literature Human evolution theorists Officers of the Order of the British Empire People from Mountain Ash, Wales People from Pontypridd Welsh feminists Welsh science writers Welsh television writers British women television writers Women science writers BBC people Welsh columnists Welsh women columnists Welsh women dramatists and playwrights