26 Facts About Laurence Housman

Laurence Housman was an English playwright, writer and illustrator whose career stretched from the 1890s to the 1950s.

Laurence Housman studied art in London and worked largely as an illustrator during the first years of his career, before shifting focus to writing.

Laurence Housman was born in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire to Edward Housman, a solicitor and tax accountant, and Sarah Jane Housman.

Laurence Housman was one of seven children including an older brother and sister, the classical scholar and poet Alfred E Housman and the writer and engraver Clemence Housman.

Laurence Housman first worked with London publishers by illustrating such works as George Meredith's Jump to Glory Jane, Jonas Lie's Weird Tales, Christina Rossetti's Goblin Market, Jane Barlow's The End of Elfintown and his sister's novella The Were-Wolf in an intricate Art Nouveau style.

Laurence Housman turned more and more to writing after his eyesight began to fail.

Laurence Housman then turned to drama with Bethlehem and was to become best known and remembered as a playwright.

Some of Laurence Housman's plays were scandalous for depicting biblical characters and living members of the Royal House on stage, and many of them were performed only privately until the subsequent relaxation of theatrical censorship.

Laurence Housman wrote children's fairy tales such as A Farm in Fairyland and fantasy stories with Christian undertones for adults, such as All-Fellows, The Cloak of Friendship, and Gods and Their Makers.

Laurence Housman wrote an autobiography, The Unexpected Years, which, despite his record of controversial writing, said little about his homosexuality, the practice of which was then illegal.

Laurence Housman identified himself as a feminist, contributing mainly to the Suffrage movement in England.

Laurence Housman's activism was largely through works of art such as creating banners, creating propaganda, writing and contributing to women's newspapers.

Laurence Housman took part in handing in a petition against force feeding, and was arrested during associated disturbances.

The Anti-Suffrage Alphabet was a book designed by Housman that incorporated illustrations from several women, including Alice B Woodward and Pamela Colman Smith, which worked to raise funds for the suffrage campaign.

Laurence Housman incorporated his passion for writing in his work with the feminist movement.

Laurence Housman was popular for taking other people's work and giving it a feminist twist.

Laurence Housman contributed to newspapers, advising women on how to protest; his advice can be found in the Women's Freedom League.

Laurence Housman wrote fiction supporting the movement, setting this series in a potential future where the boycott went well.

Laurence Housman believed men should be an active participant of the suffrage movement.

Laurence Housman was active in another male feminist group, the Men's Social and Political Union.

Laurence Housman thought economics was a central component working to oppress women.

Laurence Housman believed the Suffragettes perceived masculinity to value market values while feminine values leaned to be more utopian and reflect collective values.

An atheist, Laurence Housman was a leading light of the British Ethical and humanist movements in his lifetime.

Laurence Housman attributed his own loss of faith and adoption of humanist beliefs to his strict Victorian upbringing.

Laurence Housman was openly homosexual and invested himself to help other homosexuals to be less stigmatized by society.

Laurence Housman brought his artistic contributions to the fight of de-stigmatizing homosexuality.