Most Popular Books by Humphrey Carpenter

A biography of J.R.R. Tolkien, creator of the fictional world of Middle-Earth, discussing his early life, his career as a scholar and teacher, his decision to write and the development of his work.

Drawing on unpublished letters and diaries, the author examines the friendship between and the social and literary gatherings of Lewis, Tolkien, and Williams who laughingly called themselves the Inklings.

W. H. Auden disapproved of literary biography. Or did he? The truth is far more equivocal than at first seems apparent. There is no denying he delivered himself of such unambiguous pronouncements as ''Biographies of writers are always superfluous and usually in bad taste.''; and that he asked for his friends to burn his letters at his death, but, against that, Auden himself often reviewed literary biographies and normally with enthusiasm. Moreover he argued for biographies of writers such as Dryden, Trollope, Wagner and Gerard Manley Hopkins as their lives would tell us something about their art. Humphrey Carpenter himself nicely summarizes Auden''s ambiguity on this question. ''Here (referring to literary biography), as so often in his life, Auden adopted a dogmatic attitude which did not reflect the full range of his opinions, and which he sometimes flatly contradicted.'' Although the biography was not authorized it did receive the co-operation of the Auden Estate which gave permission for letters and unpublished works to be quoted. The result is a biography that was widely praised on first publication in 1981 and which continues to hold its own. Now is the obvious time to reissue it with the character of Humphrey Carpenter playing an important role in Alan Bennett''s The Habit of Art. In his introduction Alan Bennett writes ''When I started writing the play I made much use of the biographies of both Auden and Britten written by Humphrey Carpenter and both are models of their kind. Indeed I was consulting his books so much that eventually Carpenter found his way into the play.'' ''Carpenter is a model biographer - diligent, unspeculative, sympathetic, and extremely good at finding out what happened when and with whom . . . admirably detailed and researched study.'' John Bayley, The Listener ''an illuminating book; full of information, unobtrusively affectionate, it describes with unpretentious elegance the curve of a great poet''s life and work'' Frank Kermode, Guardian ''sharpens and usually lights up even the most canvassed parts of the Auden life and myth . . . a deeply interesting book about a deeply interesting life'' Roy Fuller, Sunday Times '' . . . the story of a remarkable man told by one of the best living biographers'' David Cecil, Book Choice

Spike Milligan was one of Britain''s best-loved comics as well as one of the most original. In this reassessment of Spike''s life and career, biographer Humphrey Carpenter has - through copious research and access to many of those closest to the great man - unearthed a character who could be as difficult and contradictory as he was generous and talented.

Samenhangende studie over het werk van een tiental auteurs van kinderboeken uit de periode 1860 tot 1930.

The first truly comprehensive biography of the controversial poet. The compassionate narrative does not flinch before the poet''s eccentric personality and later involvement with Fascist ideology, and brings absorbing new detail to his years of incarceration for treason. Exhaustively researched. Carpenter also provides a bibliography of biographical references and notes on sources. Highly recommended. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

It was the British satire "boom" of the early 1960s that created a motherlode of styles, material, and formats for generations of bright comedians and social critics in America as well as in Britain, and set the standard for clever humor that still determines our tastes in comedy and commentary today."

Class Three has got a new computer and while exploring it, Mr Majeika manages to get the whole class trapped in the school website. Many adventures follow and Class Three meet bizarre characters before they can get out.

More amazing adventures with Mr Majeika, the ex-wizard, turned teacher, and his class at St Barty''s School. This time there''s a trip down a magic river, a battle to save St Barty''s from the wrecking ball, and work experience for Class Three.

Discusses Evelyn Waugh''s circle of friends and colleagues, and describes their influence on his work.

''Oh dear,'' said Mr Majeika, ''I seem to have made the spell too strong.'' Class Three has fun during Book Week, when famous storybook characters suddenly appear! But there''s trouble ahead with Wilhemina Worlock the witch at the school''s Olympic Sports Day... Will Mr Majeika manage to magic up a solution?

A comprehensive survey of children''s literature features almost two thousand entries encompassing biographical sketches of authors, illustrators, printers, and publishers, as well as essays on the different genres, fictional characters and printing proces

''Use of magic by teacher strictly forbidden.'' Poor Mr Majeika goes to the bottom of the class when the school inspector comes to call. Things don''t get any easier when Mr Majeika turns himself into a lobster by mistake. Class Three somehow has to get Wilhemina Worlock to undo the spell...

Forty years ago, at the 1960 Edinburgh Festival, four young men - Peter Cook, Dudley Moore, Jonathan Miller and Alan Bennett - walked on to a stage and changed the face not merely of British comedy but of social attitudes in this country. BEYOND THE FRINGE was iconoclastic, fracturing the ''culture of deference'' which had predominated in the 1950s. It was the forerunner of an explosion of satire which included The Establishment Club, PRIVATE EYE and the BBC''s daring weekly satire show, THAT WAS THE WEEK THAT WAS. Award-winning biographer Humphrey Carpenter evokes the atmosphere of 60''s Britain and the social and political conditions which enraged and inspired the satirists, and brings vibrantly alive this amusing but also key period of British cultural life.

''Music teacher? What music teacher?'' The sudden arrival of a new music teacher throws St barty''s School into confusion. Mysterious smells start coming from the staffroom and creepy-crawlies appear out of nowhere. The new arrival is, of course, Wilhelmina Worlock, a wicked witch with some nasty tricks. It''s up to Mr Majeika to try to outwit her...

Mr Majeika is the most magical teacher around! ''Do be careful, Mr Majeika, there might be real ghosts in there.'' When Class Three and Mr Majeika get on board a ghost train, they are in for a surprise. Real ghosts appear and the wicked Wilhemina Worlock isn''t far away. But Jody comes to the rescue - with a dragon to help her! Look out for more Mr Majeika adventures including: Mr Majeika and the School Trip Mr Majeika and the School Play Mr Majeika and the Lost Spell Book Mr Majeika and the Music Teacher Mr Majeika and the School Caretaker

Mr Majeika is the most magical teacher around! ''Sometimes, '' whispered Jody. ''I think school dinners would be all right if it wasn''t for her.'' Mrs Chipchase, the nasty dinner lady, makes lunch hour at St Barty''s really unpleasant. That is, for everyone but her ''favourite friend'', Hamish Bigmore. Up to his usual tricks, Hamish is allowed to eat chocolate instead of ghastly school dinners! Mr Majeika decides it''s time to sort out the menu in his most magical way...! There are lots more Mr Majeika adventures to collect, including: Mr Majika and the Ghost Train Mr Majeika and the Lost Spell Book Mr Majeika and the Haunted Hotel Mr Majeika and the School Play Mr Majeika and the School Trip