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1911-1995
Critic and novelist. Born in Aston, Birmingham. His father was a silversmith and his upbringing was firmly set within a working-class community. On winning a scholarship he attended King Edward's Grammar School, Aston but was quoted as saying that he learned more from his reading in the Reference section of the Birmingham City Library. In 1929 he went on to study English at Birmingham University. His circle of friends included Henry Reed, who had attended his old school, and Louis MacNeice. A career in journalism followed, writing for the local press in Birmingham and later more widely, including a stint as Literary Editor for the New Statesman from 1960 to 1961. He also became well known as a broadcaster and lecturer, visiting the U.S.A. from time to time from the mid 1950's. In 1967 he became the first Professor of English Studies at the University of Ulster followed by a final two years teaching in America.
In his fiction, Walter Allen wrote of the ordinary working-class life he knew from his roots in Birmingham. All in a lifetime (1959) is considered to be his best novel and draws on memories of his father. His two general literary studies The English novel; a short critical history (1954) and Tradition and dream (1964) were well received and became standard works in their field.
The following works are available in the West Midlands Creative Literature Collection:-
Accosting profiles (1989)
All in a lifetime (1959)
Get out early (1986)
Other works by the author:-
Arnold Bennett (1948) [Literary criticism]
As I walked down New Grub Street (1981)
[Autobiography]
The Black Country (1946) [Novel]
Blind man's ditch (1939) [Novel]
Dead man over all (1950) [U.S. title The square
peg] [Novel]
The English novel; a short critical history (1954)
[Literary criticism]
George Eliot (1964) [Literary criticism]
Innocence is drowned (1938) [Novel]
Joyce Cary (1953) [Literary criticism]
Living space (1940) [Novel]
The novel today (1955) [Literary criticism]
Reading a novel (1949) [Literary criticism]
Rogue elephant (1946) [Novel]
Six great novelists (1955) [Literary criticism]
Tradition and dream (1964) [Literary criticism]
Writers on writing (1948) [Literary criticism]
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