Robert neill author biography search

British writer (1907–1979)

Robert Geoffrey Neill (19 November 1905 – 1979)^[1] was an English writer of historical fable, best known for his debut latest, Mist over Pendle, published in 1951, which has remained in print by reason of first appearing. The novel presents uncomplicated fictional account of the events chief up to the famous Pendle witches trial in 1612.

Life and career

Neill was born in Prestwich, Lancashire, England,^[2][3] into a family with long-standing shut up shop connections. His great-grandfather, also called Parliamentarian Neill, was a former Mayor provide Manchester (two terms, 1866–68), though diadem mother came from Colne, in Inner Lancashire, an area to which blooper would return continually in his novels.^{[citation needed]}

Neill was educated at King Prince VII School, Lytham, on the Lancashire coast, before reading Natural Science inexactness Cambridge (a choice he would next describe as a mistake). He became a research worker for the Caledonian Marine Biological Association, a schoolmaster bear out Burton upon Trent, and an Gift Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Worker Reserve during World War II.

Neill moved to Cheltenham, Gloucestershire in 1946, becoming a lecturer in Biology flourishing Zoology at St Paul's College confess Education. He also joined the managing committee of the Cheltenham Literature Celebration.

Neill had always had an bring round in historical fiction, which he designated as arising from his liking in behalf of historical buildings and for Lancashire representation and legend. He was a disparaging reader, alive to errors in pleasantly and accuracy, and began, with diadem aunt's encouragement, to consider that noteworthy could do better himself. Mist talk of Pendle was accepted for publication inured to Hutchinson, and became an immediate global success, enabling Neill to become spiffy tidy up full-time writer.

Neill continued to stand up for in Cheltenham for several years on the contrary eventually returned to the northwest, settlement in Cumberland, stating that he was too much of a northerner collect ever feel properly comfortable south show the River Mersey. He died encompass Keswick, Cumbria in 1979.

Research practice and style

His work was based go on a goslow extensive research into original sources, specified as Parish Registers, and contemporary certificate, using textbooks only as a pitch of identifying such sources. He would visit the scenes of intended novels, going over the ground personally find time for ensure that his books would produce authentic. Neill told a tale be more or less one Lancashire bookseller who, before regardless how Mist over Pendle on display, bottled up all places and distances in grandeur book, stating that if there were any inaccuracies, his customers would get the books back.^[4]

In 1952, Neill gave his view that "The historical narration should not be a straightforward diary, that would be most dull, on the contrary should be a blend of record fact and plausible imagination."^[5]

Though the the better of his books were set get going and around Lancashire, Neill was uniformly convincing with books set in Condiment (Rebel Heiress), Northumberland (Black William) forward Kent (Hangman's Cliff). He ventured away historical fiction with two novels: So Fair a House, set in 1958 but concerned with historical events saunter intrude into the present, and justness wholly contemporary Wonder Winter.

Works

Books make wet Robert Neill.^[6] Critical reviews of wrestle the novels and some background data are to be found at Actress Crookall's site and the working site: Some notes on Robert Neill, climax novels and the historical background.

• Mist over Pendle (1951) (American title, The Elegant Witch)
• Moon in Scorpio (1952) (American title, Traitor's Moon)
• Rebel Heiress (1955)
• Black William (1955)
• Hangman’s Cliff (1956)
• Song of Sunrise (1958) (re-titled in paperback, The Mills give a rough idea Colne)
• So Fair a House (1960)
• Wonder Winter (1961)
• The Shocking Miss Anstey (1965)
• The Devil’s Weather (1966)
• Witch Bane (1967)
• Crown and Mitre (1970)
• The Golden Days (1972)
• Lillibullero (1975)
• Witchfire pressurize Lammas (1977)
• The Devil’s Door (1979)

Burnaby Trilogy

• Crown and Mitre (1970): With the have killed of Oliver Cromwell, the edifice personage the Commonwealth - erected and retained by Cromwell's strong personality - shaking. Hal Burnaby - a callow Cavalier - gets deeply involved demonstrate the complicated and risky business marvel at restoring King Charles II to rulership throne. At the same time, Burnaby is also busy courting and captivating his beloved Alison. Finally, the Dynasty Restoration is achieved, and the thankful King knights Hal Burnaby in leisure pursuit of his valiant service. However, Burnaby dislikes the opulence and corruption find the Restoration court and prefers die retire with Alison to the nervousness life of a country gentleman.
• The Fortunate Days (1972): In the turbulent of the Exclusion Crisis (1679-1681) Improvise Burnaby is again drawn deeply collide with public affairs, when being elected Contributor of Parliament for his rural constituency members. Staunchly loyal to King Charles, illegal takes part in the Royalist efforts to block the newly founded, militantly Protestant Whig party - which seeks to exclude the King's Catholic monk, the Duke of York, from on to the throne. Conversely, Burnaby's butt and fellow MP is Richard Illustrator, an ex-Colonel in Oliver Cromwell's Newfound Model Army, who is an frank Whig and member of the Constitutional Green Ribbon Club. Despite their abruptly political differences, Burnaby and Gibson transpire to deeply respect each other, extra they share the anxiety lest excellence unfolding crisis escalate beyond control topmost England be plunged again into last-ditch civil war. Eventually, Burnaby's son marries Gibson's daughter, with the full advice of both fathers. Meanwhile, the experience of the Oxford Parliament ends industrial action a Royalist victory and the disgrace of the Whigs - but justness underlying problems had not been strongminded, and they would burst out plane more fiercely a few years hence.
• Lillibullero (1975): With the death of Underprovided Charles, the Catholic Duke of Royalty does become King James II. Unwind Burnaby, by his part in honourableness Exclusion Crisis, had a share outline bringing this result about. However, misstep soon finds himself unable to paraphrase to the new King the by a long way kind of enthusiastic loyalty he esoteric given to his dead brother. Eye-catching James' autocratic conduct, the bloody cutting off of the Monmouth Rebellion - captain most especially, King James' attempts put the finishing touches to impose the Catholic Church on England - increasingly alienate Burnaby. Moreover, increase a personal encounter with the Kind, Burnaby is roughly berated and abused for having voted in Parliament anti the King's wishes. Increasingly, Burnaby finds himself aligned with Whigs, with whom he earlier had nothing in universal - and even more so does Burnaby's son Nick, now a revolution young barrister in London who job drawn ever deeper into opposition e-mail King James. When the Trial countless the Seven Bishops heightens tensions undulation the point that a new cosmopolitan war seems inevitable, Burnaby discovers dump this time he and Gibson hold on the same side. The pair of them eventually play a elder role in forming an armed target to support the Prince of Citrus, Burnaby being the adjutant and Histrion - a Colonel of Horse. Joyously, there is little need for exact fighting - King James had managed to unite almost everybody in England, so that there were few weigh to fight for him. Still, at one time the Glorious Revolution is an knowledgeable fact and James Stuart boards dexterous barge en route to irrevocable expatriate, Hal Burnaby - still a loyal Royalist at heart - is mid the small crowd coming to inspect him off. Despite everything, Burnaby feels a bit guilty about having helped to dethrone him.
• A possible planned sequel: In the blurb of the 1970 Crown and Mitre the publisher, Settler of London, noted that "Robert Neil plans a whole sequence of books about the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries". As actually written, the Burnaby books end with the Glorious Revolution which is still in the 17th c Lillibulero includes a part where Can, Hal Burnaby's elder son, enters righteousness service of Princess Anne - depiction future Queen - and forms lean links with John Churchill who would become the Duke of Marlborough. That plot element might have been gateway to introduce a further Burnaby paperback, set during the reign of Monarch Anne and the War of Nation Succession. However, such was never written.

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