Biography and Bibliography

Aldous Huxley was born in England July 26, 1894 and was the third son of Leonard Huxley. Leonard was a biographer, editor, and poet. His mother was the founder of Prior Fields School. Aldous was fourteen years old when his mother died and he was sixteen years old when he suffered from keratitis punctata. He was completely blind for a year and a half. Some saw this as a blessing in disguise.

When Huxley was in his early twenties he began writing “Brave New World.” This book became one of his most well known books to date. He received his B.A. in English from Balliol College, Oxford (1913-1915). He worked at Garsington during the war since his vision disqualified him for service. The farm is where Aldous met his wife, Maria Nys. He also became good friends with D.H Lawrence.

Aldous Huxley’s first collection of poetry appeared in 1916 and volume two followed later in 1920. Huxley’s first novel, Chrome Yellow (1921) which was a witty criticism of society, made him one of the most fashionable literary figures of the decade. In eight years he published a dozen novels, including Point Counter Point (1928) and Do What You Will (1929).

In 1937 Huxley, his wife and son Matthew (born April 20, 1920) moved to Hollywood, California. He was given screen credit for Pride and Prejudice (1940) and paid for his work on other films as well. Yet his experience in Hollywood was not a great success. Huxley wrote a synopsis of Alice in Wonderland and Walt Disney said “he could only understand every third word,” and so it was rejected.

Brave New World Revised was published in 1958 and his last novel Island was published in 1962. Aldous Huxley died on November 22, 1963, but his death was over shadowed by J.F. Kennedy’s assassination. This took place the same day as his death.