The Modern Novel

Biography

Max Beerbohm should not be here, as his one completed novel – Zuleika Dobson – is a slight but very witty satire of Oxford. But he is here because of this novel, a satire in a style which few other nationalities produce, because of his association with many of the literary greats of the Edwardian era, because of his criticism, particularly theatrical, for his stylish and urbane wit and, finally, because to George Bernard Shaw and many others, he was the incomparable Max.

Born Henry Maximilian Beerbohm in London in 1872, he went to Oxford but never finished his degree though, of course, he did set his only completed novel in Oxford. Most of his writing was light, concentrating on essays, criticism, short stories and parodies. He knew many of the leading writers and artists of the day through his association with the Rhymers Club, the New English Art Club and the like. His half-brother was Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree, the actor-manager and this gave him an entree to theatrical circles and led him to become one of the leading dramatic critics of his day. He was also a successful artist, specialising in caricatures. In 1910, he married the American actress, Florence Kahn and they lived in Italy for the rest of his life, except for the two world wars. He died in 1956.

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Max Beerbohm
Max Beerbohm
Sir Max Beerbohm
Texts of his works online