15 Facts About Julian Symons

Julian Gustave Symons was a British crime writer and poet.

Julian Symons wrote social and military history, biography and studies of literature.

Julian Symons was born in Clapham, London, and died in Walmer, Kent.

Julian Symons was born in London to auctioneer Morris Albert Symons, of Russian-Polish Jewish immigrant parentage, and Minnie Louise, nee Bull.

Julian Symons was mainly self-educated, whilst working as a typist and clerk for an engineering firm.

Julian Symons founded the poetry magazine Twentieth Century Verse in 1937, editing it for two years.

Julian Symons's crime writing in the 1930s was incidental; later he became a major crime writer; by using irony, he pointed out the violence hidden in everyday life.

Julian Symons was a Trotskyist and sought status as a conscientious objector in World War II, but was refused by his tribunal.

Julian Symons served in the Royal Armoured Corps 1942 to 1944, when he was invalided out with a non-battle-related arm injury.

Julian Symons highlighted the distinction between the classic puzzler mystery, associated with such writers as Agatha Christie and John Dickson Carr, and the more modern "crime novel," which puts emphasis on psychology and motivation.

Julian Symons published over thirty crime novels and story collections between 1945 and 1994.

Julian Symons's novels tend to focus on ordinary people drawn into a murderous chain of events; the intricate plots are often spiced with black humour.

Julian Symons wrote two modern-day Sherlock Holmes pastiches, as well as a pastiche set in the 1920s.

In 1941, Julian Symons married Kathleen Clark; they had a daughter Sarah and a son, Mark.

Julian Symons died at his home at Walmer, in Kent, and was survived by his widow and son.