E. R. Braithwaite
E. R. Braithwaite | |
---|---|
Born | Eustace Edward Ricardo Braithwaite June 27, 1912 Georgetown, British Guiana (now Guyana) |
Died | December 12, 2016 Rockville, Maryland, U.S. | (aged 104)
Occupation | Novelist, writer, diplomat, teacher, pilot |
Alma mater | City College of New York (B.S.) University of Cambridge (MSc) |
Genre | Fiction, literature |
Partner | Genevieve Ast |
Eustace Edward Ricardo Braithwaite (June 27, 1912 – December 12, 2016),
Early life
Braithwaite was born in
Career
After the war, despite his extensive training, Braithwaite could not find work in his field and, disillusioned, reluctantly accepted a job as a schoolteacher at St George-in-the-East Central School (now the Mulberry House apartments)[8] adjacent to the north side of St George in the East church, in the Wapping area of the East End of London.[9] His novel, To Sir, With Love (1959), was based on his experiences there.[6][10] It won an Anisfield-Wolf Book Award.[11] To Sir, with Love was adapted into a film of the same title, starring Sidney Poitier. Although the film was a box-office success, many critics, and Braithwaite himself, considered it too sentimental. He also objected to the main character's mixed-race romance being given lower prominence in the film version.[12] In 2007 he said on a BBC Radio 4 programme, To Sir, with Love Revisited, written and presented by Burt Caesar: "I detest the movie from the bottom of my heart."[13][14]
While he was writing his book about the school Braithwaite turned to social work. It became his job to find
He was the first Permanent Representative of Guyana to the United Nations from 1967 to 1969.[4] He was elected to the presidency of the United Nations Council for South West Africa in 1968. He later served as Guyana's Ambassador to Venezuela.[4][15]
In 1973 South Africa lifted its ban on Braithwaite's books and he subsequently visited the country. While there he was granted the status of "
He taught
He turned 100 in 2012, and on a visit to Guyana while serving as the patron of the Inter-Guiana Cultural Festival, he was given a national award, the Cacique Crown of Honour, by then-President Donald Ramotar.[18]
In 2013, Braithwaite attended the first live performance of the stage version of To Sir, With Love.[19] The play was written by Ayub Khan Din as part of Royal & Derngate, Northampton's Made In Northampton theatrical season. The play was directed by Mark Babych and starred Ansu Kabia in the title role and Matthew Kelly.[20] This was the first theater-adoption of the book.[21]
Personal life and death
Braithwaite lived in Washington, D.C.,[22] with his partner, Genevieve Ast.[4]
Braithwaite died at the Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center in Rockville, Maryland, on December 12, 2016, at the age of 104.[12][23]
Selected bibliography
- To Sir, With Love (1959)[4][24]
- Paid Servant (1962)[4][24]
- A Kind of Homecoming (1962)[4]
- Choice of Straws (1965)[4]
- Reluctant Neighbors (1972)[4][24]
- Honorary White (1975)[4][24]
- Billingsly: The Bear With The Crinkled Ear (2014)[25]
See also
- List of teachers portrayed in films
- List of centenarians (authors, poets and journalists)
References
- ^ Manchester, Connecticut, Community College News Archive, February 2, 2006
- ISBN 0-8103-2772-4.
- ^ Michael Jordan (August 26, 2012). "'To Sir with Love Author' E. R. Braithwaite is a Special Person". Kaieteur News. Retrieved August 11, 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Chan, Sewell (December 13, 2016). "E. R. Braithwaite, Author of 'To Sir, With Love,' Dies at 104". The New York Times. New York City. Retrieved December 14, 2016.
- OCLC 62088020.
- ^ a b Modern English, 1980, vol. 1, p. 115.
- ^ "Obituary: E. R. Braithwaite", The Sunday Times, News UK, London, December 15, 2016.
- ^ "St George-in-the-East Church | Board Schools | Cable Street". stgitehistory.org.uk. Archived from the original on December 9, 2023. Retrieved April 7, 2024.
After the Second World War it became a secondary modern school, St George-in-the-East Central School… and has now been converted into 34 luxury apartments as 'Mulberry House'.
- ^ "To Sir, With Love | 1967". movie-locations.com. Archived from the original on October 4, 2023. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
- ^ Onyekachi Wambu, 1998, p. 4.
- ^ "E. R. Braithwaite | To Sir, With Love", Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards.
- ^ a b Italie, Hillel (December 13, 2016). "'To Sir, With Love' author E. R. Braithwaite dies at 104". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. Retrieved December 13, 2016.
- ^ Mahoney, Elisabeth (August 27, 2007). "Radio review: To Sir, With Love Revisited". The Guardian. London. Retrieved August 27, 2007.
- ^ "To Sir, With Love Revisited", BBC Radio 4Extra.
- ^ "'To Sir, With Love' Author E.R. Braithwaite Dies at 104". Kaieteur News. Georgetown, Guyana. December 14, 2016. Archived from the original on December 17, 2016. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
- ^ Manchester, CT, Community College News Archive, February 3, 2006.
- ^ Staff (August 24, 2012). "National award bestowed on author E. R. Braithwaite". Stabroek News. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
- ^ Fisher, Gillian. "E.R Braithwaite – interview -To Sir, With Love". Afridiziak Theatre News. Retrieved December 17, 2022.
- ^ The List retrieved 2014-9-25
- ^ Fisher, Gillian (October 2013). "Ansu Kabia – interview - To Sir With Love". Afridiziak Theatre News. Retrieved December 17, 2022.
- ^ Debra Eve (July 1, 2016). "The Late-Blooming Author of "To Sir, With Love" Just Turned 104". laterbloomer.com. Retrieved August 11, 2016.
- ^ Denis Chabrol, "Guyanese author, educator and diplomat – E. R. Braithwaite dies", Demerara Waves, December 13, 2016.
- ^ a b c d "E R Braithwaite". British Library. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
- ISBN 978-1480457478.
External links
- Manchester Community College News Item on E. R. Braithwaite
- Susie Thomas's article on the London Fictions site about To Sir, with Love
- Onyekachi Wambu (1998), Black British Literature since Windrush. BBC
- BBC 7 listing for 17/18 Oct 2008
- Manchester, CT, Community College News Archive (February 3, 2006), Dr. Edward R. Braithwaite author of “To Sir, With Love” Named Visiting Professor at MCC
- E R Braithwaite at the British Library
- "Guyanese novelist E.R. Braithwaite awarded Cacique Crown of Honour", Capitol News, August 23, 2012. YouTube.