James Hilton

James Hilton (September 9, 1900 - December 20, 1954) was a popular English novelist of the first half of the 20th century.

Related Topics:
September 9 - 1900 - December 20 - 1954 - Novelist - 20th century

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Born in Leigh, Lancashire, England on 9 September 1900, he was the son of John Hilton, the headmaster of Chapel End School in Walthamstow, who was one of the inspirations for Mr Chipping in Goodbye, Mr Chips. The setting for "Goodbye Mr. Chips" is believed to have been based on the Leys School, Cambridge where James Hilton was a pupil. Mr Chipping is also likely to have been based on W.H. Balgarnie, one of the masters of the school who was in charge of the Leys Fortnightly (where Hilton's first short stories and essays were published).

Related Topics:
Leigh - Lancashire - England - 9 September - 1900 - John Hilton - Chapel End School - Walthamstow - Mr Chipping - Goodbye, Mr Chips

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Hilton found literary success at an early age. His first novel, Catherine Herself, was published in 1920. Several of his books found a new audience through film adaptations, notably Lost Horizon (1933), which won a Hawthornden Prize; Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1934); and Random Harvest (1941). Hilton won an Oscar in 1942 for his work on the screenplay of Mrs. Miniver by Jan Struther. He hosted The Hallmark Playhouse (1948-1953) for CBS Radio.

Related Topics:
Novel - Catherine Herself - 1920 - Film - Lost Horizon - 1933 - Hawthornden Prize - Goodbye, Mr. Chips - 1934 - Random Harvest - 1941 - Hilton - Oscar - 1942 - Screenplay - Mrs. Miniver - Jan Struther - The Hallmark Playhouse - 1948 - 1953 - CBS Radio

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Hilton popularised the term Shangri-La in his novel Lost Horizon, which may have been inspired by the Tibetan travel articles of explorer Joseph Rock. US President Roosevelt soon named his presidential retreat "Shangri-La" after it, and the name has become a byword for a mythical utopia -- a permanently happy land, isolated from the world. Zhongdian, a mountain region of southwest China, has now renamed itself Shangri-La (Xianggelila) based on its claim to have inspired Hilton's book.

Related Topics:
Hilton - Shangri-La - Lost Horizon - Joseph Rock - US President - Roosevelt - Utopia

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Hilton was married and divorced twice, to Galina Kopineck and Alice Brown. He died in Long Beach, California from liver cancer on December 20, 1954, aged 54.

Related Topics:
Galina Kopineck - Alice Brown - Long Beach - California - Liver cancer - December 20 - 1954

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