British Authors of the 1950s: Larkin, Selvon, Golding & More

British Authors of the 1950s

Philip Larkin

Born in Coventry and educated in Oxford, Philip Larkin was initially influenced by Yeats and Thomas Hardy. He became a dominant figure of “The Movement,” whose work was seen as a counteraction between Modernism and the influence of Dylan Thomas.

Key Works:

  • Next Please (1954)
  • The Trees (1967)

Sam Selvon

Sam Selvon, a “criollo” from Trinidad, was a Caribbean writer. He worked for the BBC and was known as a talented writer with a peaceful life. He eventually moved to Britain.

Key Work:

  • The Lonely Londoners (1956)

William Golding

William Golding stands apart from other authors of this period. He attended a public school and initially studied science at Oxford before switching to literature. He later moved to London.

Key Work:

  • Lord of the Flies (1954)

Chinua Achebe

Chinua Achebe was a Nigerian novelist educated in English at a church school. His novel, Things Fall Apart, depicts the destruction of a family and their culture due to colonization, illustrating the tragic consequences of cultural disruption.

Key Work:

  • Things Fall Apart (1958)

Samuel Beckett

Born near Dublin, Samuel Beckett moved to France. He wrote most of his works in French but translated some into an Irish-inflected English. He was a bilingual author who transformed English theater by rejecting well-made plays with elaborate characters and clear resolutions.

Key Work:

  • Waiting for Godot (1953)

John Osborne

John Osborne was an English playwright, screenwriter, actor, and critic of the Establishment. He explored various themes and genres across stage, film, and TV, and was among the first writers to address Britain’s purpose in the post-imperial era.

Key Work:

  • Look Back in Anger (1959)

Adrian Henri, Brian Patten, and Roger McGough

These poets were like rock stars, combining writing with singing and performance. They embraced the rock and roll lifestyle and drew inspiration from the “beat generation” in the USA, incorporating jazz music, sensual experimentation with drugs, and explorations of sexuality.

Key Themes:

  • Normal, relatable imagery
  • Concrete images of sex and music
  • Private, yet non-romantic themes

Roger McGough

Roger McGough aimed to create something fun and relatable while maintaining a formal and elaborate style. His metaphors are complex, and his work explores subjectivity and beauty even when referencing popular themes.

Key Work:

  • Let Me Die a Young Man’s Death

This poem uses beauty in its word choice, referencing popular themes. It reflects the wishes of someone approaching an age where a peaceful death is expected, laughing at typical deaths while acknowledging the underlying sadness of mortality.