Vivien Noakes (née Langley; 16 February 1937 – 17 February 2011) was a British biographer, editor and critic, an expert on
Edward Lear
Edward Lear (12 May 1812 – 29 January 1888) was an English artist, illustrator, musician, author and poet, who is known mostly for his literary nonsense in poetry and prose and especially his limerick (poetry), limericks, a form he popularised. ...
and the literature of the
First World War
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
. She was a fellow of the
Royal Society of Literature
The Royal Society of Literature (RSL) is a learned society founded in 1820 by King George IV to "reward literary merit and excite literary talent". A charity that represents the voice of literature in the UK, the RSL has about 800 Fellows, elect ...
.
Early life and education
She was born Vivien Mary Langley, daughter of aeronautical engineer Marcus Langley and educated at
Dunottar School
Dunottar School is a co-educational private secondary day school in Reigate, Surrey, England, established in 1926 as a girls' school.
History
The school was established in 1926 by Jessie Elliot-Pyle in Brownlow Road with three pupils, and was n ...
, leaving with A-levels. It was not until later in life that she took her degree at
Manchester College, Oxford
Harris Manchester College (HMC) is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. It was founded in Warrington in 1757 as a college for Unitarian students and moved to Oxford in 1893. It became a full college of the un ...
, and
Somerville College, Oxford
Somerville College is a Colleges of the University of Oxford, constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. It was founded in 1879 as Somerville Hall, one of its first two women's colleges. It began admitting men in 1994. The colle ...
, where she was subsequently lecturer.
Career
She lectured at
Harvard University
Harvard University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1636 and named for its first benefactor, the History of the Puritans in North America, Puritan clergyma ...
and at the
Yale Center for British Art
The Yale Center for British Art at Yale University in central New Haven, Connecticut, houses the largest and most comprehensive collection of British art outside the United Kingdom. The collection of paintings, sculpture, drawings, prints, rare ...
. She was a leading authority - per her ''Times'' obituary, "the world's leading authority" - on
Edward Lear
Edward Lear (12 May 1812 – 29 January 1888) was an English artist, illustrator, musician, author and poet, who is known mostly for his literary nonsense in poetry and prose and especially his limerick (poetry), limericks, a form he popularised. ...
and on the literature of
World War I
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
.
Personal life
She was married to the painter
Michael Noakes
Michael Noakes (28 October 1933 – 30 May 2018) was an English artist and portrait painter.Obituary ''The Guardian'', 4 March 2011; accessed 10 April 2014.
She died of cancer the day after her 74th birthday, a month after suffering a stroke. She left copies of many of Lear's letters to
Somerville College Library
Somerville College Library is the academic library, college library of Somerville College, Oxford, Somerville College, one of the 38 colleges of the University of Oxford, colleges of the University of Oxford. The library is one of the largest co ...
.
Works
*''Edward Lear, The Life of a Wanderer'' (1968). (2006 ed.)
*''Edward Lear, 1812-1888'' (1986).
*''The Painter Edward Lear'' (1991).
*''The Daily Life of The Queen: An Artist's Diary'' (2000) with Michael Noakes.
*''Voices of Silence'' (2006).