Sir Anthony Glyn (13 March 1922, London - 20 January 1998, France) was a British-Guyanese author of about a dozen books. His books included a number of novels and a biography of his grandmother, the novelist Elinor Glyn.[1][2][3][4]
Early life and education
[edit]Geoffrey Leo Simon Davson was born in London on 13 March 1922.[5] He was the son of the Guyanese businessman[1] and government advisor, Sir Edward Davson and his wife, Margot Elinor Glyn OBE. His maternal grandmother was the novelist, Elinor Glyn[1] and his paternal grandfather was the sugar merchant, Sir Henry Davson. Davson's great-grandfather, Simon Davson, had settled in Guyana after fleeing Latvia.[6]
Davson was educated at Eton College.[1][4]
He served in the British army during World War II.[1][4] Davson joined the Welsh Guards as an intelligence officer,[5] then joined the family business working in numerous roles from farmhand to management.[1] In 1937, Glyn's father died and Glyn succeeded him as the 2nd Baronet of Berbice.[5]
Writing career
[edit]In the 1950s, he changed his name by deed poll[5] and started writing.[1] He adopted the surname of his maternal grandmother, a well-known author, as well as the given name, Anthony.[7] Anthony Glyn's first novel was "Romanza" (1953) and his most critically acclaimed was "The Dragon Variation" (1969).[1] In 1955, he also wrote a biography of his grandmother.[1]
Death
[edit]Glyn died at his home[1] in Villeneuve-Loubet, France[5] on 20 January 1998; he was 75.[2][3] He was buried at Pere Lachaise cemetery, Paris.
Glyn was survived by his wife, Susan, Lady Glyn.[1] He had married Susan Rhys Williams, the daughter of Sir Rhys Rhys Williams, in 1946.[5] The couple had two daughters. Their daughter Caroline, an author like her father, published her first book in 1963 when she was 15.[8]
Glyn was succeeded to the baronetcy by his brother Christopher Davson.
Works
[edit]- "Romanza" (1953)[3]
- "Jungle of Eden" (1954)[3]
- The Ram in the Thicket (1957)[9][5]
- The Terminal (1965).[5]
- "The Dragon Variation (1969)[3]
- Glyn, Anthony. 1970. British: A Portrait of a People. London: Hutchinson.[3]
- Glyn, Anthony. 1986. The Companion Guide to Paris.[3]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Sir Anthony Glyn, novelist and grandson of Elinor Glyn, dies". The Fresno Bee. Associated Press. 29 Jan 1998. pp. D15. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
- ^ a b "Deaths Elsewhere (Sir Anthony Glyn)". The State Journal. Frankfort, Kentucky. Jan 29, 1998. p. 2. Retrieved 2025-07-03 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Obituaries (Sir Anthony Glyn)". The Stuart News. Stuart, Florida. Jan 31, 1998. p. 8. Retrieved 2025-07-03 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c "Author of the Week". The Daily Nonpareil. Council Bluffs, Iowa. 9 Jul 1955. p. 2. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Obituary: Sir Anthony Glyn Bt". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2024-09-05. Retrieved 2025-07-03.
- ^ "Obituary: Sir Henry Katz Davson". The Times. 23 February 1909. p. 13.
- ^ Glyn, Anthony (Apr 17, 1959). "This is it - Now I Knew Fear". Evening Standard. London, England. p. 14. Retrieved 2025-07-03 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "It's 'SWOT, SWOT': British Schoolgirl Publishes a Novel". The Houston Post. 8 Aug 1963. pp. B-7. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
- ^ "London Letter: The Angry Man". Western Mail. Cardiff, Wales. 5 March 1957. p. 4. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
External links
[edit]- Goodreads profile
- Glyn, Anthony. 1999. The Companion Guide to Paris. Rev. ed., revised by Susan Glyn. Woodbridge: Companion Guides.
