Aldous Leonard Huxley, a renowned writer, essayist, and screenwriter, had a diverse career that spanned various genres. Although his first novel, written at the age of 17, was never published, he gained recognition with his satirical work “Crome Yellow,” which tackled social issues. In addition to his role as an editor for “Oxford Poetry,” Huxley dabbled in short stories, poetry, and even ventured into scriptwriting for Hollywood films, albeit without much success. As he delved deeper into parapsychology and philosophical mysticism, his writings began to reflect these interests. Huxley’s exploration of meditation, vegetarianism, and Vedanta led him to become an active member of the Vedanta Society of Southern California. However, a disagreement arose between him and Swami Prabhavananda, the head of the society, regarding Huxley’s experience with LSD. Despite this, Huxley continued to contribute articles and deliver lectures for the society. He chronicled his personal journey of improving his eyesight through the Bates Method in his book “The Art of Seeing.” While Huxley identified as an agnostic, his fascination with spirituality and mysticism remained evident throughout his life.
Quick Facts
- British Celebrities Born In July
- Also Known As: Aldous Leonard Huxley
- Died At Age: 69
- Family:
- Spouse/Ex-: Laura Archera Huxley
- Father: Leonard Huxley
- Mother: Julia Arnold Ward Huxley
- Siblings: Julian Huxley, Margaret Huxley, Trevenen Huxley
- Children: Matthew Huxley
- Born Country: England
- Quotes By Aldous Huxley
- Novelists
- Died on: November 22, 1963
- Place of death: Los Angeles County, California, United States
- Ancestry: British American
- Cause of Death: Laryngeal Cancer
- More Facts
- Education: Eton College, Balliol College, Oxford
Childhood & Early Life
Aldous Huxley was born in Godalming, Surrey, England. He was the third son of Leonard Huxley, a writer and schoolmaster, and his first wife Julia Arnold. He had two brothers and a half-brother. Huxley began his initial learning in his father’s well-equipped botanical laboratory and later attended Hillside school. He then went on to study at Eton College. Unfortunately, he lost his mother in 1908. In 1911, Huxley suffered from blindness for two to three years, which prevented him from qualifying for service in the First World War. After his recovery, he studied English literature at Balliol College, Oxford, and graduated with first class honors.
Career
Huxley taught French for a year at Eton College, where he gained popularity among his students for his use of words, despite being remembered for his incompetency as a teacher. In 1918, he worked at the Air Ministry for a brief period and also worked as a farm laborer at Garsington Manor during World War I, where he met personalities like Bertrand Russell and Clive Bell. During the 1920s, he served at Brunner and Mond chemical plant in Billingham, Teesside. In 1921, his first novel, “Crome Yellow,” was published, which caricatured the lifestyle at Garsington. After the death of his friend D.H. Lawrence, Huxley edited Lawrence’s letters in 1933. During this period, he authored several famous novels like “Brave New World” and “Eyeless in Gaza.” He also started writing and editing non-fiction works on pacifist issues, including books like “Ends and Means,” “Pacifism and Philosophy,” and “An Encyclopedia of Pacifism.” In 1937, he shifted to Hollywood and authored “Ends and Means” during his brief period in Taos, New Mexico.
Spiritual Inspiration and Later Works
Huxley’s friend Gerald Heard introduced him to the principle of ‘ahimsa,’ and from 1939 to 1963, he was actively involved with the Vedanta Society of Southern California. His familiarity with the spiritual values of “Vedanta” inspired him to write “The Perennial Philosophy,” in which he discussed the teachings of renowned mystics across the world. His memory of Occidental College, where his close friend was the president, acted as an inspiration for his satirical novel “After Many a Summer,” which earned him the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for fiction in 1939. Between 1941 and 1960, Huxley wrote 48 articles for “Vedanta and the West” and also worked as a Hollywood writer, scripting films like “Madam Curie,” “Pride and Prejudice,” and “Jane Eyre.” His experience of taking psychedelic drugs became the basis of his essays “The Doors of Perception” and “Heaven and Hell,” which became popular among the hippies. From 1951 to 1962, he remained on the editorial board of The Vedanta Society of Southern California and delivered lectures on various topics.
Major Works
Huxley’s novel “Brave New World,” published in 1932, is listed as one of the 100 best English language novels of the 20th Century by the Modern Library. The novel discusses issues like reproductive technology and psychological manipulation. His novel “Ends and Means,” published in 1937, discusses issues related to war, religion, nationalism, and ethics, and he openly expresses his opinions about people’s ignorance regarding the achievement of liberty, peace, and justice.
Personal Life & Legacy
Huxley married Maria Nys, a Belgian woman, in 1919, and they had a son. Maria passed away from breast cancer in 1955, and the following year, Huxley married Laura Archera, an author. In 1960, he was diagnosed with laryngeal cancer and passed away at the age of 69. Unfortunately, his death was overshadowed by the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Huxley’s legacy includes his contributions to literature and his exploration of spiritual and philosophical ideas. He is also known for his use of the Bates Method to improve his eyesight, claiming that it allowed him to read without glasses for over 25 years.