Philip Guedalla

Notable Works

• The Duke (1931) and (1997) Hodder and Stoughton, London
• The Hundredth Year (1939) Thornton Butterworth, London
• Mr Churchill (1941) Pan, London

About

Born in Maida Vale, London, into a secular Jewish family of Spanish origin, Philip Guedalla was educated at Rugby School and Balliol College, Oxford, where he became President of the Oxford Union in 1911 and published in Oxford Poetry 1910–1913. In 1919 he married Nellie Maude Reitlinger. Guedalla was a barrister and author of popular history, essays, biography, and travel books. In 1936, he chaired a joint committee of British Council, Foreign Office, Overseas Trade Department, British Film Institute, and the Travel Association, to select and produce British documentaries for overseas.

In later life Guedalla become President of British Zionist Federation, Jewish Historical Society of England, and Vice-President of Jewish Representative Council. He was also Chair of Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House) group on The Republics of South America (1937). He stood unsuccessfully as parliamentary candidate for the Liberal Party five times and died from medical complications relating to his war service as RAF pilot.

Legacy

His gift of Royalties from his literary estate to the RLF helps support future generations of writers.