Ray Coryton Hutchinson (23 January 1907 – 3 July 1975) was a best-selling British novelist. His posthumously published novel ''

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'' (1976) was short-listed for the 1976

Booker Prize The Booker Prize, formerly known as the Booker Prize for Fiction (1969–2001) and the Man Booker Prize (2002–2019), is a Literary award, literary prize awarded each year for the best novel written in English and published in the United King ...

. He was born in

Finchley Finchley () is a large district of north London, England, in the London Borough of Barnet. Finchley is on high ground, north of Charing Cross. Nearby districts include: Golders Green, Muswell Hill, Friern Barnet, Whetstone, Mill Hill and H ...

, Middlesex and educated at

Monkton Combe School (Thy Word is Truth) , established = , type = Public schoolIndependent schoolBoarding school , founder = The Revd Francis Pocock , head_label = Head Master , head ...

, near Bath from 1920 to 1924. He received his BA at Oriel College, Oxford in 1927 and joined the advertising department at Colman's in Norwich. He married Margaret Owen Jones in April 1929. His first novel, '' Thou Hast a Devil'', was published in 1930. It was followed by '' The Answering Glory'' (1932), and '' The Unforgotten Prisoner'' (1933), which sold 150,000 copies in the first month. Subsequent novels also sold very well and in 1935 he left Colman's to begin writing full-time. In March 1940 he joined the army, and in July was posted as captain in the 8th Battalion of the Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment). He travelled widely during the Second World War, while continuing to write. In October 1945, after preparing the official history of the Paiforce campaign, he was demobilised with the rank of major. After the war he wrote many more successful novels, often recommended by book clubs. He was elected 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 ...

in June 1962. He died before completing the last chapter of his novel, ''

'' (1976). It was published in September of the same year and short-listed for the

in November 1976. His published work comprises 17 novels and 28 short stories, as well as one play, ''

Last Train South A last is a mechanical form shaped like a human foot. It is used by shoemakers and cordwainers in the manufacture and repair of shoes. Lasts typically come in pairs and have been made from various materials, including hardwoods, cast iron, an ...

'' (1938).

Novels

*''Thou Hast a Devil'' (1930) *''The Caravan of Culture'' (1930, unpublished) *''The Answering Glory'' (1932) *''The Unforgotten Prisoner'' (1933) *''One Light Burning'' (1935) *''Shining Scabbard'' (1936) *''Testament'' (1938) *''The Fire and the Wood'' (1940) *''Interim'' (1945) *''Elephant and Castle'' (1949) *''Recollection of a Journey'' (1952) **US title: ''Journey with Strangers'' *''The Stepmother'' (1955) *''March the Ninth'' (1957) *''Image of My Father'' (1961) **US title: ''The Inheritor'' *''A Child Possessed'' (1964) **Winner of the W. H. Smith Literary Award in 1966 *''Johanna at Daybreak'' (1969) *''Origins of Cathleen'' (1971) *''

'' (1976)

Drama

:*The Pace for Living

References

*R. C. Hutchinson. ''The Quixotes: Collected Stories''. Edited by Robert Green. Carcanet Press, Manchester, 1984.

External links

R. C. Hutchinson Papers
at the Harry Ransom Center 1907 births 1975 deaths Fellows of the Royal Society of Literature People from Finchley People educated at Monkton Combe School 20th-century British novelists British male novelists 20th-century British male writers {{UK-novelist-stub