"The Chrysalids" is a science fiction novel written by John Wyndham and published in 1955. The book was given mixed reviews with some lauding it for its originality and other's finding it too hard to believe. In 1970, the novel was adapted into a radio serial for the BBC. The novel revolves around a young […]
John Wyndham
John Wyndham was born on July 10th 1903 in Dorridge, Warwickshire, England. Born John Wyndham Parkes Lucas Beynon Harris, Wyndham later shorted his name when he began writing. The son of a barrister, Wyndham's parents separated when he was very young and he and his brother, the fellow writer Vivian Beynon Harris were shuffled throughout preparatory and public schools for the remainder of their childhood.
Wyndham graduated from Bedales School in Hampshire in 1921 and began trying different careers to see what would fit him. He worked as a farmer, a lawyer, and an advertising associate but eventually began writing in 1925.
In 1931, Wyndham was selling short science fiction stories to magazines and his story 'The Lost Machine' was published in the April 1932 issue of the science fiction magazine Amazing Stories. Wyndham worked in the Ministry of Information during World War II before joining the British army and working as a Corporal cipher in the Royal Corps of Signals.
After the war ended, Wyndham returned to writing and soon published his first novel. 'The Day of Triffids' in 1951.
The book was a success and established him as a respected science fiction author. Wyndham went on to publish six more novels in his lifetime including the very successful 'The Midwich Cuckoos' in 1957.
In 1963, after knowing her for over 20 years, Wyndham married a woman named Grace Wilson whom he was married to until his death in 1969 at the age of 65. After his death, some of his earlier work was republished and his archive was acquired by Liverpool University.
