- Hugo Dyson
Infobox Writer
name = Hugo Dyson
caption = Dyson in a Still From the Movie "Darling"
birthdate = 1896
deathdate = 1975
occupation =Scholar
genre =Shakespearian Literature
influences =William Shakespeare ,Christianity Henry Victor Dyson Dyson (1896–1975), generally known as Hugo Dyson and who signed his writings H. V. D. Dyson, was an English academic and a member of the
Inklings literary group. He was a committedChristian , and together withJ.R.R. Tolkien , he helped persuadeC.S. Lewis to convert to active Christianity.Dyson taught English at the
University of Reading from 1924 until obtaining a fellowship atMerton College, Oxford in 1945. He retired in 1963.Dyson was not a prolific writer, but the high quality and voluminous quantity of his lectures and general conversation made quite an impact on people. He much preferred talk at Inklings meetings to readings and is recorded by fellow Inkling
Christopher Tolkien as "lying on the couch, and lolling and shouting and saying, 'Oh God, no more Elves'" during "The Lord of the Rings". [ cite video | people = Derek Bailey (Director) and Judi Dench (Narrator)| title = A Film Portrait of J. R. R. Tolkien | medium = Television documentary| publisher = Visual Corporation| year = 1992] Dyson was hardly alone in his distaste for Tolkien's stories, and eventually Tolkien quit reading from them to the group altogether. Actually, it seems clear from the letters of C.S. Lewis that Dyson was considered the most fun loving of the Inklings, and Warnie Lewis liked him best of all.Dyson, an expert on Shakespeare, was asked in the early 1960's to host some televised lectures and plays about the great writer. His easy, relaxed style won him several new friends. This would lead to his having a small part in the film "Darling" [A short clip containing all of Dyson's time in the movie "Darling" can be seen [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2jHEJzpRYs here] ] in 1965 where he played the role of Professor Walter Southgate, a leading literary character of the age who would die in the film.
References
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