Christopher Isherwood

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Christopher Isherwood 6 Allan Warren

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Gedenktafel Nollendorfstr 17 (Schönb) Christopher Isherwood

Christopher Isherwood Berlin residence

Christopher Isherwood (26 August 1904 – 4 January 1986) was an English-American novelist, playwright, screenwriter, autobiographer, and diarist. His best-known works include The Berlin Stories, two semi-autobiographical novellas inspired by Isherwood's time in Weimar Republic Germany. These stories, The Last of Mr. Norris and Goodbye to Berlin, were later adapted into the musical Cabaret and the 1972 film of the same name. Isherwood's novel A Single Man was also adapted into a film in 2009.

Biography

Christopher William Bradshaw-Isherwood was born in High Lane, Cheshire, England, and his early life was marked by the loss of his father in World War I. He attended Repton School and later Cambridge University, though he left without obtaining a degree. In the late 1920s, Isherwood moved to Berlin, the experience of which profoundly influenced his writing and outlook. His Berlin years are chronicled in The Berlin Stories, which provide a vivid portrait of the city's decadent nightlife and the rise of the Nazi Party, as seen through the eyes of his thinly veiled autobiographical characters.

In 1939, Isherwood emigrated to the United States, where he would spend the rest of his life. He became a U.S. citizen in 1946. In America, he met and formed a lifelong relationship with the artist Don Bachardy, with whom he lived in Santa Monica, California. Isherwood's later works often explored themes of spirituality, sexuality, and self-realization, reflecting his own interests in Vedanta and his efforts to reconcile his identity as a gay man with his spiritual pursuits.

Works

Isherwood's literary contributions are significant, with his works exploring complex themes such as identity, belonging, and the nature of reality. The Berlin Stories remain his most celebrated works, but his other novels, such as A Single Man and Christopher and His Kind, a memoir covering the years 1929–1939, also received critical acclaim. Isherwood's style is characterized by its directness, wit, and the ability to convey deep emotional truths.

Legacy

Christopher Isherwood's influence extends beyond literature into film, theater, and the arts. His exploration of LGBTQ+ themes and characters was pioneering for its time, offering visibility and a voice to a marginalized community. Isherwood's work continues to be studied and appreciated for its literary merit and its candid portrayal of gay life in the 20th century.

See Also

• The Berlin Stories
• A Single Man
• Cabaret (musical)
• Weimar Republic
• LGBTQ+ literature