Maxwell

GAVIN MAXWELL (1914 - 1969)

Despite his impressive books on Iraq, Sicily and Morocco, Maxwell is best known for his splendid otter books, in particular Ring of Bright Water. Maxwell was the son of the beautiful Lady Mary Percy, daughter of the seventh Duke of Northumberland, and spent time as a boy at Alnwick castle. He was deeply influenced by the South Shields-born naturalist and writer, Ernest Thompson Seton (q.v.), all of whose books he had read by the time he was eight years old. Wild Animals I have Known was probably his favourite.

The title Ring of Bright Water is taken from a hauntingly beautiful poem by Kathleen Raine (q.v.) though the poem does not refer to Maxwell. The relationship between Raine and Maxwell is treated in The Lion's Mouth, the third volume of her autobiography.

The North-East
GAVIN MAXWELL (1914 - 1969) Despite his impressive books on Iraq, Sicily and Morocco, Maxwell is best known for his splendid otter books, in particular Ring of Bright Water. Maxwell was the son of the beautiful Lady Mary Percy, daughter of the seventh Duke of Northumberland, and spent time as a boy at Alnwick castle. He was deeply influenced by the South Shields-born naturalist and writer, Ernest Thompson Seton (q.v.), all of whose books he had read by the time he was eight years old. Wild Animals I have Known was probably his favourite. The title Ring of Bright Water is taken from a hauntingly beautiful poem by Kathleen Raine (q.v.) though the poem does not refer to Maxwell. The relationship between Raine and Maxwell is treated in The Lion's Mouth, the third volume of her autobiography.
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