Author Focus: Aldous Huxley

Aldous Huxley was a British author best known for the book A Brave New World. Aldous Huxley was born in July 26th, 1894 to Julia Arnold and Leonard Huxley in Godalming, Surrey, England. His father was a schoolmaster and writer and his mother founded Prior's Field School. Aldous went blind as a teenager for two or three years, but his eyesight returned sufficient enough to study English at Balliol College, Oxford, but it was always poor for the rest of his life. He graduated with honors. Aldous Huxley's first published novel was Crome Yellow in 1921, a social satire. His published works include novels, short story collections, poetry collections, essay collections, screenplays, travel books, drama, articles, and even a children's book titled The Crows of Pearblossom.

Aldous Huxley's mother died when he was only 14. He became sick in 1911 and his sight was forever damaged.
Aldous Huxley's brother Noel committed suicide in 1914 after suffering from depression.
Aldous Huxley wrote a novel when he was 17 but it was not published.
Aldous Huxley's first novel Crome Yellow was a satirical look at life at the Garsington Manor where he had worked during World War I.
Aldous Huxley's works often addressed the potential harm to mankind by scientific progress.
Aldous Huxley developed a close friendship with the famous writer D.H. Lawrence while at Oxford. He eventually edited Lawrence's letters following his death in 1930.
Aldous novels included Crome Yellow, Antic Hay, Those Barren Leaves, Point Counter Point, Brave New World, Eyeless in Gaza, After Many a Summer, Time Must Have a Stop, Ape and Essence, The Genius and the Goddess, and Island.
Aldous Huxley moved to Hollywood in 1937 with his wife Maria, and son Matthew. He lived there for the rest of his life.
Aldous Huxley became spiritual soon after moving to the U.S. and meeting Jiddu Krishnamurti. He became a Vendatist.
Aldous Huxley wrote a satirical book After Many a Summer which featured Tarzana College, after spending a great deal of time at Occidental College in Los Angeles in 1939.
Aldous Huxley became a Hollywood screenwriter and began earning $3,000 a week, which in 1938 was a lot of money.
Aldous used a lot of the money he earned as a screenwriter to bring artist and writer refugees to the U.S. from Hitler's Germany.
Aldous Huxley wrote a letter to George Orwell, the author of Nineteen Eighty-Four, in 1949 to congratulate him on his book. He felt the book was 'profoundly important', and predicted that the government would become all-controlling in the years to come.
Aldous Huxley applied to become a citizen of the United States but because he would not agree to take up arms to defend the U.S. his application was denied several times. He eventually withdrew his application.
Aldous was married twice. His first marriage ended when his wife Maria died. His second marriage to Laura Archera ended when Aldous died of laryngeal cancer.
Aldous Huxley died at the age of 69, on November 22, 1963.
When he died, the author C.S. Lewis had also passed away. Both of their deaths were overshadowed by President John F. Kennedy' assassination.
Russian composer Igor Stravinsky was good friends with Aldous Huxley. Igor dedicated his final orchestral composition to Aldous.