Joyce's Fans (10)

Joyce Cary

Author profile

born

in Derry, Ireland

December 07, 1888

died

March 29, 1957

gender

male

About this author

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Cary now undertook his great works examining historical and social change in England during his own lifetime. The First Trilogy (1941–44) finally provided Cary with a reasonable income, and The Horse's Mouth (1944) remains his most popular novel. Cary's pamphlet "The Case for African Freedom" (1941), published by Orwell's Searchlight Books series, had attracted some interest, and the film director Thorold Dickinson asked for Cary's help in developing a wartime movie set partly in Africa. In 1943, while writing The Horse's Mouth, Cary travelled to Africa with a film crew to work on Men of Two Worlds.

Cary travelled to India in 1946 on a second film project with Dickinson, but the struggle against the British for national independence made mov...more Cary now undertook his great works examining historical and social change in England during his own lifetime. The First Trilogy (1941–44) finally provided Cary with a reasonable income, and The Horse's Mouth (1944) remains his most popular novel. Cary's pamphlet "The Case for African Freedom" (1941), published by Orwell's Searchlight Books series, had attracted some interest, and the film director Thorold Dickinson asked for Cary's help in developing a wartime movie set partly in Africa. In 1943, while writing The Horse's Mouth, Cary travelled to Africa with a film crew to work on Men of Two Worlds.

Cary travelled to India in 1946 on a second film project with Dickinson, but the struggle against the British for national independence made movie-making impossible, and the project was abandoned. The Moonlight (1946), a novel about the difficulties of women, ended a long period of intense creativity for Cary. Gertrude was suffering from cancer and his output slowed for a while.

Gertrude died as A Fearful Joy (1949) was being published. Cary was now at the height of his fame and fortune. He began preparing a series of prefatory notes for the re-publication of all his works in a standard edition published by Michael Joseph.

He visited the United States, collaborated on a stage adaptation of Mister Johnson, and was offered a CBE, which he refused. Meanwhile he continued work on the three novels that make up the Second Trilogy (1952–55). In 1952, Cary had some muscle problems which were originally diagnosed as bursitis, but as more symptoms were noted over the next two years, the diagnosis was changed to that of motor neuron disease, a wasting and gradual paralysis that was terminal.

As his physical powers failed, Cary had to have a pen tied to his hand and his arm supported by a rope in order to write. Finally, he resorted to dictation until unable to speak, and then ceased writing for the first time since 1912. His last work, The Captive and the Free (1959), first volume of a projected trilogy on religion, was unfinished at his death on March 29, 1957.(less)

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Joyce Cary's Books

Average rating: 3.90 · 1,055 ratings · 136 reviews · 34 distinct works · Similar authors

	The Horse's Mouth by Joyce Cary, Brad Leithauser (Introduction) 3.99 of 5 stars 3.99 avg rating — 553 ratings — published 1944 — 20 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Herself Surprised by Joyce Cary, Brad Leithauser (Introduction) 3.85 of 5 stars 3.85 avg rating — 115 ratings — published 1941 — 5 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Mister Johnson 3.57 of 5 stars 3.57 avg rating — 124 ratings — published 1939 — 13 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	To Be a Pilgrim by Joyce Cary, Brad Leithauser (Introduction) 3.76 of 5 stars 3.76 avg rating — 59 ratings — published 1942 — 5 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Prisoner of Grace 3.67 of 5 stars 3.67 avg rating — 21 ratings — 4 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Except the Lord 4.0 of 5 stars 4.00 avg rating — 13 ratings — published 1953 — 3 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Art And Reality: Ways Of The Creative Process 4.0 of 5 stars 4.00 avg rating — 13 ratings — published 1958	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	A House of Children 4.27 of 5 stars 4.27 avg rating — 11 ratings — published 1941 — 4 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The African Witch 3.88 of 5 stars 3.88 avg rating — 8 ratings — published 1936	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Not Honour More 3.78 of 5 stars 3.78 avg rating — 9 ratings — published 1955 — 2 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Joyce Cary…

Series by Joyce Cary

Triptych (3 books)
by Joyce Cary, Brad Leithauser (Introduction)
3.953232462173315 of 5 stars 3.95 avg rating — 727 ratings

Quotes by Joyce Cary

“To forgive is wisdom, to forget is genius.”
― Joyce Cary

tags: forgetting, forgiveness, genius

63 people liked it

“To forgive is wisdom, to forget is genius. And easier. Because it's true. It's a new world every heart beat.”
― Joyce Cary, The Horse's Mouth

tags: a-new-world, forgetting, forgiveness, genius, gulley-jimson, heart-beats, truth

23 people liked it

“The truth is that life is hard and dangerous; that he who seeks his own happiness does not find it; that he who is weak must suffer; that he who demands love will be disappointed; that he who is greedy will not be fed; that he who seeks peace will find strife; that truth is only for the brave; that joy is only for him who does not fear to be alone; that life is only for the one who is not afraid to die.”
― Joyce Cary

8 people liked it

See all Joyce Cary's quotes »

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