Rudolf Wilhelm Besier (2 July 1878 â€" 16 June 1942) was a
Dutch/English dramatist and translator best known for his play The
Barretts of Wimpole Street (1930). He worked with H. G. Wells, Hugh
Walpole and May Edginton on dramatisations.Besier was born in Blitar,
East Java (Dutch East Indies), in 1878 as the son of an English
mother, Margaret Ann Collinson, and the Dutch soldier Rudolf Wilhelm
Besier, who died six months before he was born and after whom he was
named.[1] He had some limited success early in his career in England,
which began with The Virgin Goddess (1906) produced by Otho Stuart.
Then followed a series of plays, mainly dramas, but including some
satires and comedies.[2] In 1912 he collaborated with H. G. Wells on
dramatising Wells's Kipps; he also worked with Hugh Walpole on Robin's
Father (1918).[2] Secrets (1922) was written with May Edginton
(1883â€"1957).[3]Besier's major success came with The Barretts of
Wimpole Street (1930), based on Elizabeth Barrett and Robert
Browning's courtship. After being rejected by two London producers, it
premièred at the Malvern Festival of 1930, directed by Sir Barry
Jackson. Besier failed to interest American producers, 27 of whom
rejected his play, but the actress Katharine Cornell took a personal
interest in it. She had it staged in Cleveland in 1931, and then in
New York.[2] It was revived and produced in many countries, and was
made into two films and a musical.Rudolf Besier died in Surrey in
1942, aged 63.
Dutch/English dramatist and translator best known for his play The
Barretts of Wimpole Street (1930). He worked with H. G. Wells, Hugh
Walpole and May Edginton on dramatisations.Besier was born in Blitar,
East Java (Dutch East Indies), in 1878 as the son of an English
mother, Margaret Ann Collinson, and the Dutch soldier Rudolf Wilhelm
Besier, who died six months before he was born and after whom he was
named.[1] He had some limited success early in his career in England,
which began with The Virgin Goddess (1906) produced by Otho Stuart.
Then followed a series of plays, mainly dramas, but including some
satires and comedies.[2] In 1912 he collaborated with H. G. Wells on
dramatising Wells's Kipps; he also worked with Hugh Walpole on Robin's
Father (1918).[2] Secrets (1922) was written with May Edginton
(1883â€"1957).[3]Besier's major success came with The Barretts of
Wimpole Street (1930), based on Elizabeth Barrett and Robert
Browning's courtship. After being rejected by two London producers, it
premièred at the Malvern Festival of 1930, directed by Sir Barry
Jackson. Besier failed to interest American producers, 27 of whom
rejected his play, but the actress Katharine Cornell took a personal
interest in it. She had it staged in Cleveland in 1931, and then in
New York.[2] It was revived and produced in many countries, and was
made into two films and a musical.Rudolf Besier died in Surrey in
1942, aged 63.
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