Critical and biographical information on Henry Reed, World War II British poet, critic, translator, and radio dramatist — author of "Naming of Parts"
Henry Reed, poet and radio dramatist
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Timeline of Events in the Life of Poet Henry Reed (1914-1986)

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1914 Born, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England, 22 February.
  1925 - 1931 King Edward VI Grammar School, Aston, Birmingham.
    1934 BA 1st class Honors Language & Literature, University of Birmingham.
1934 Reed's parents finance his first visit to Italy.
  1936 MA, University of Birmingham, thesis on Thomas Hardy.
    1936 Second trip to Italy.
1937 First published poem, "The Captain," appears in The Listener.
  1939 Third visit to Italy.
    1940 - 1941 Teaches as English master, King Edward VI Grammar School.
1941 Michael Ramsbotham posted to Bletchley Park.
  1941 Reed's poem "Chard Whitlow" wins a New Statesman and Nation parody contest.
    1941 - 1942 Private, Royal Army Ordnance Corps.
1942 "Naming of Parts" first published in The New Statesman and Nation.
  1942 -1945 Naval Intelligence, Government Code & Cypher School, Bletchley Park.
    1943 "Judging Distances" published in The New Statesman and Nation.
1945 'Demobbed' from military service.
  1945 "Unarmed Combat" published in The New Statesman and Nation.
    1946 Reed and Ramsbotham guests of Elizabeth Bowen, Bowen's Court, Kildorrery, Ireland.
1946 A Map of Verona: Poems first published, London.
  1946 Reed and Ramsbotham rent Lovells Farm, Marnhull, Dorset, England.
    1946 - Fiction and poetry reviewer for The Listener. Begins writing radio plays for the BBC Third Programme.
1947 A Map of Verona and Other Poems published, New York, U.S.A.
  1947 The Novel Since 1939 published by The British Council.
    1947 Fourth visit to Italy.
1947 Moby Dick: A Play for Radio broadcast on the BBC.
  1947 -1948 Begins "Radio Notes" column in The New Statesman and Nation.
    1948 Holiday in Cyprus with Ramsbotham.
1949 Rents Gable Court with Ramsbotham, Yetminster, Dorset, England.
  1950 Relationship with Ramsbotham ends.
    1950 Takes fifth trip to Italy.
1950 "Movement of Bodies" first published in The Listener.
  1950 Moves to London.
    1951 Reed's adaptation of Hardy's epic, three-volume poem, The Dynasts, broadcast on the BBC in six parts.
1953 Wins Premio della Radio Italiana award for Streets of Pompeii.
  1953 Broadcast of A Very Great Man Indeed, first appearance of Hilda Tablet.
    1955 Reed's translation of Betti's The Burnt Flower-Bed produced in London's Arts Theatre, starring Leo McKern.
1955 Reed's translation of Betti's Island of Goats staged at New York's Fulton Theatre.
  1956 "The Auction Sale" published in Encounter.
    1960 Trip to Greece.
1963 Reed's translation of Betti's Corruption in the Palace of Justice staged at New York's Cherry Lane Theatre, produced by Edward Albee.
  1963 - 1964 Visiting Professor of English, University of Washington, Seattle.
    1965 - 1966 Lecturer in English, University of Washington. Appointment coincides with Elizabeth Bishop's time at the university.
1966 An updated, five-part "Complete Lessons of the War" broadcast on the BBC.
  1966 - 1967 Visiting Professor of English, University of Washington.
    1968 Reed's translation of Ginzburg's The Advertisement performed by London's National Theatre Company, at the Old Vic Theatre, produced by Sir Laurence Olivier.
1970 "Returning of Issue" published in The Listener.
  1970 The collected Lessons of the War poems printed by the Chilmark Press, New York.
    1979 Receives Pye Radio Award for lifetime achievement from the Society of Authors, U.K.
1982 Reed's translation of Betti's The Queen and the Rebels staged at New York's Plymouth Theatre, produced by Circle in the Square.
  1986 Dies in St. Charles Hospital, Kensington, London, 8 December.
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Page last modified: 01 October 2016