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Henry Williamson: A Portrait
Henry Williamson A Portrait
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1986
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 16, 2023
I knew Henry Williamson had a reputation as a difficult man, so I wasn't expecting to warm to his personality when reading this biography, but I always rate a biography on how it is written, rather than on how likeable the subject is.
Unfortunately, I found Farson's biography unpleasant reading because he is constantly making excuses for Williamson's behaviour, either because he fought in the First World War or because he was a talented writer. Right at the start, Farson says that 'it is time to forgive any man his politics if they are forged through such an experience' (meaning his wartime service). And the politics he is referring to is an enthusiastic support and hero-worship of Hitler and a life-long devotion to the nazi party. Bizarrely, he even praises Williamson for his 'constancy', implying that those who abandoned their allegiance after the war were somehow less noble. It doesn't seem to occur to him that many of Hitler's former supporters were horrified to discover the reality of what they had been supporting once news of the concentration camps and the genocide was made public. For a man to continue to view Hitler as a 'saint' in the light of the gas chambers suggests a seriously twisted mind.
Williamson lied constantly, claiming famous people had favourably reviewed his books when they had never heard of them, and claiming examples of wartime heroism by others as his own. Farson says that 'As an artist, Henry was permitted to turn an incident to his advantage.' Describing the author's cruelty and infidelity towards his first wife Loetitia (he later includes accounts of behaviours which are clearly domestic abuse), he says that 'To a certain extent the artist needs to be selfish in his battle to make time for himself.'
Troublingly, Farson writes that '...far from preferring women he could easily dominate, Henry admired women with spirit and intelligence provided they were prepared to surrender their will to his.' Even worse, toward the end of Williamson's life, we read accounts of how, in his 60s and 70s, he tried to make girls in their teens and 20s fall in love with him, and it's hard to reconcile the claim that there was 'nothing sexual' about it, with the account of the young woman who complained about the septuagenarian Williamson putting his hand up her skirt.
As far as the quality of the writing goes, I'd probably rate this book at 3 stars or 3.5. But the constant justification of racism, anti-semitism, cruelty, sexual assault, domestic abuse etc, etc, knocks it down to 2 stars.
Unfortunately, I found Farson's biography unpleasant reading because he is constantly making excuses for Williamson's behaviour, either because he fought in the First World War or because he was a talented writer. Right at the start, Farson says that 'it is time to forgive any man his politics if they are forged through such an experience' (meaning his wartime service). And the politics he is referring to is an enthusiastic support and hero-worship of Hitler and a life-long devotion to the nazi party. Bizarrely, he even praises Williamson for his 'constancy', implying that those who abandoned their allegiance after the war were somehow less noble. It doesn't seem to occur to him that many of Hitler's former supporters were horrified to discover the reality of what they had been supporting once news of the concentration camps and the genocide was made public. For a man to continue to view Hitler as a 'saint' in the light of the gas chambers suggests a seriously twisted mind.
Williamson lied constantly, claiming famous people had favourably reviewed his books when they had never heard of them, and claiming examples of wartime heroism by others as his own. Farson says that 'As an artist, Henry was permitted to turn an incident to his advantage.' Describing the author's cruelty and infidelity towards his first wife Loetitia (he later includes accounts of behaviours which are clearly domestic abuse), he says that 'To a certain extent the artist needs to be selfish in his battle to make time for himself.'
Troublingly, Farson writes that '...far from preferring women he could easily dominate, Henry admired women with spirit and intelligence provided they were prepared to surrender their will to his.' Even worse, toward the end of Williamson's life, we read accounts of how, in his 60s and 70s, he tried to make girls in their teens and 20s fall in love with him, and it's hard to reconcile the claim that there was 'nothing sexual' about it, with the account of the young woman who complained about the septuagenarian Williamson putting his hand up her skirt.
As far as the quality of the writing goes, I'd probably rate this book at 3 stars or 3.5. But the constant justification of racism, anti-semitism, cruelty, sexual assault, domestic abuse etc, etc, knocks it down to 2 stars.
November 18, 2020
Daniel Farson admires Williamson's writing and knew him as a friend. His aim seems to be to extract an idea of Henry Wiiliamson as a coherent figure from the fantasies that he constructed around himself and to plead for his recognition as a great man despite his fascism. I'm not sure he really mages to do either of these things. He also made me realise how unpleasantly sexist Williamson was and doesn't himself seem to worry about this at all.
There is a lot of interesting information about the man and the times and it is thought provoking to read about why someone might have supported Hitler. However at times it is too personal and yet not sufficiently clear about his personal opinions. One is left wondering why he continued the friendship.
He seems quite to have enjoyed Williamson's irascibility and practical jokes and drunken mad exploits as well as feeling sorry for him.
There is a lot of interesting information about the man and the times and it is thought provoking to read about why someone might have supported Hitler. However at times it is too personal and yet not sufficiently clear about his personal opinions. One is left wondering why he continued the friendship.
He seems quite to have enjoyed Williamson's irascibility and practical jokes and drunken mad exploits as well as feeling sorry for him.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews