Author Description
Ovenden draws on public and private papers to paint a compelling portrait of Dan Davin, OUP's Academic Publisher. He charts one man's growth against the background of war and the literary-intellectual milieu of post-war London and Oxford. A New Zealander, Davin originally came to Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar. During the Second World War he fought in Crete, and, later, wrote the campaign's official history. As a novelist he befriended contemporary writers such as Louis MacNeice, and Joyce Cary among others. In this fascinating biography Davin emerges as a man with a complex public and private life, beset in later life by depression and alcoholism.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This biography investigates the multifaceted life of Dan Davin, examining how his experiences as a soldier, Rhodes Scholar, and academic publisher shaped his identity and literary contributions. Keith Ovenden utilizes an extensive collection of public and private papers to reconstruct Davin's trajectory from his New Zealand origins to his influential position within the Oxford University Press. The work argues that Davin's personal struggles with mental health and substance abuse were inextricably linked to the pressures of his professional life and the intellectual environment of post-war Oxford.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- Detailed account of Davin's military service in Crete during the Second World War.
- Analysis of his tenure as an academic publisher at Oxford University Press.
- Documentation of his social and professional interactions with figures like Louis MacNeice and Joyce Cary.
- Examination of his dual identity as a New Zealander and an Oxford intellectual.
Scope Limits
- The text focuses primarily on Davin's life and career, rather than providing a comprehensive literary critique of his entire body of work.
- It does not attempt to provide a general history of the publishing industry beyond Davin's specific sphere of influence.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Critics and scholars recognize this work as a thorough and well-researched examination of a significant, yet often overlooked, figure in 20th-century literary and publishing circles. Readers frequently note the balance between the author's professional achievements and the candid exploration of his personal vulnerabilities.
Page Count:
502
Publication Date:
1996-07-25
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0192123351
ISBN-13:
9780192123350
Biography
Literary History
Publishing History
Authors biography
New Zealand
Military History
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