Angus Wilson born 11 August 1913 (d. 1991)Angus Wilson was a British novelist and short story writer. He received a knighthood for his services to literature.
Wilson was born in Bexhill, Sussex, England, to an English father and South African mother. He spent part of his childhood in South Africa.
Back in England, Wilson found a stability at school and university, that was not offered at home. Within these institutions he fashioned himself into a 'character'. His homosexuality soon became obvious and, as his pretty looks metamorphosed into oddity and campness, he created defences to protect himself.
Taking pride in his differences and learning to clown, impersonate and tell stories enhanced his natural kindness and generosity, and attracted others to him.
He was educated at Merton College, Oxford, and in 1937 became a librarian in the British Museum's Department of Printed Books, working on the new General Catalogue.
His first publication was a collection of short stories, The Wrong Set (1949). His writing has a strongly satirical vein. Several of his books have been adapted for television.
In World War II, he was at Bletchley Park the codebreaking establishment, where he worked in the Naval section Hut 8 on translating Italian Naval codes. A wearer of large, brightly-coloured bow-ties, he was one of the 'famous homosexuals' at Bletchley, an experience he found lonely and drove him to suffer bouts of depression.
Shortly after the war, Wilson met Tony Garrett, fifteen years his junior. From 1946 onwards, their relationship, based on friendship as well as mutual attraction, slowly developed until it became a strong, loving and respectful, though not always unproblematic, partnership that neither wanted to relinquish.
Of his eight novels, his second Anglo-Saxon Attitudes (1956) is widely considered to be his greatest achievement. He also produced three short story collections, a play and several non-fiction works.
He jointly helped to establish the now renowned creative writing course at the University of East Anglia.
In the mid 1980s Wilson began to suffer from dementia and was cared for by Garrett until his death.