In Search of H. V. Morton

by Michael Bartholomew

Description

Witty, elegant, and engaging, H.V.Morton was the world's first great travel writer in the sense that we think of the term today. From the outset of his career as a Fleet Street journalist present at the opening of Tutenkhamun's tomb, to his death in South Africa in 1979, Morton crisscrossed the world and compressed his character and experience into dozens of hugely influential travel books, which sold in their millions during the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s, and which continue to delight show more readers and travelers throughout the world today. But despite his success, Morton was a private man, determined to reveal to his readers only what was printed on the pages of the books. Written with full access to H.V. Morton's diaries and letters held at his estate in South Africa, Michael Bartholomew's comprehensive biography describes the life and personality of a uniquely charismatic man. Examining the dichotomy Morton felt between his personal and public personas, and his often dramatic relationships with members of the opposite sex, In Search of H.V.Morton coaxes into light a writer who was determined to stay in the shade. show less

Member Reviews

Featured Recent Thumbs

1 review

John_Vaughan 304 reviews

Morton has been considered as rather arrogant, and, before his war service, almost fascist in his very non-PC views; but that is a perspective from our current time where we have the benefit of hindsight (always 20/20 of course) and a peer of Morton’s from his time suggests that there was a fairly commonly held view in the early days of fascism, before the horrors of the Holocaust that there was in general ”…an important yearning for government that actually worked - that ended unemployment, built big new roads, developed modern industries and, yes, made the trains run on time…” With his strong ideals and religious belief, his attitude that ‘his’ God only helped those who helped themselves and even, perhaps, his show more anti-feminism Morton would probably today feel at home quietly sitting, murmuring and supping at a “Tea Party”?

In Search.. Michael Bartholomew finds H.V. and reveals the deeper man. show less

Aug 25, 2011 (Edited)

All Reviews

Members

Recently Added By: MLandDT-S, HillaryGail, turoholic, cjoats, John_Vaughan, flatron, ficekrichard47, Stromata

All Members

Published Reviews

This book is a sympathetic, 'warts and all' portrayal of the real man behind the public persona; above all it is a balanced account. It is direct and unstinting, delivering praise and criticism alike where they are due. By the conclusion any Morton admirer will be the better for having read it and will have an understanding of the real depth behind both 'HV' and 'Harry'.

Niall Taylor, H.V. Morton Society

Aug 25, 2011

added by John_Vaughan

Bartholomew’s biography came out in time for the unveiling of a blue plaque honouring Morton in the place of his birth, Ashton-under-Lyne; its nastier revelations were ‘completely dismissed by everyone present’, according to a report given to the H.V. Morton Society, formed in 2003. But then Morton didn’t invent the myths he tapped into; and arcadia was never the exclusive preserve of show more the reactionary middle classes, even if they patrol its bounds as if it were. show less

Kitty Hauser, London Review

Aug 25, 2011

added by John_Vaughan

All Reviews