Vivien Noakes

Publications

• Edward Lear, The Life of a Wanderer, Collins, 1968; Houghton Mifflin, 1969; 2nd revised edn Fontana, 1979; 3rd revised edn Ariel Books, 1985; 4th revised edn Sutton Books, 2004. Second runner-up for the Yorkshire Post Prize for a First Book 1968.
• For Lovers of Edward Lear, ed., Collins, 1978.
• Scenes from Victorian Life, ed., Collins, 1979.
• Edward Lear, 1812-1888, the catalogue of the Royal Academy Exhibition, Weidenfeld & Nicholson and the Royal Academy of Arts, 1985; Harry N. Abrams, 1985.
• Selected Letters of Edward Lear, ed., Oxford University Press, 1988; Italian translation, Edward Lear: Paessaggi Mediterranei, Lettere, 1833-1858, Rosellina Archinto, Milano, 1990.
• The Painter Edward Lear, David and Charles, 1991; Arts Guild Choice, June 1991.
• Isaac Rosenberg: The Imperial War Museum Catalogue, 1988.
• The Daily Life of The Queen: An Artist's Diary (with Michael Noakes), Ebury Press, 2000.
• Edward Lear: The Complete Verse and Other Nonsense, Penguin Classics, 2001.
• Edward Lear: The Complete Nonsense and Other Verse, Penguin Classics paperback, 2004.
• The Poems and Plays of Isaac Rosenberg, Oxford University Press, 2004.
• Voices of Silence: The Alternative Book of First World War Poetry, Sutton 2006.

Contributor to:

• Twentieth Century Children’s Writers, Macmillan, 1974;
• The New Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004;
• The Oxford Handbook of British & Irish War Poetry, Oxford University Press, 2007;
• The Second Cuckoo: A New Selection of Letters to The Times, George Allen & Unwin, 1983;
• The Last Cuckoo: The Very Best Letters to The Times since 1900, George Allen & Unwin, 1987;
• The Times: Brief Letters to the Editor, Times Books, 2003;
• Various newspapers and journals including The Times, The Times Literary Supplement, Daily Telegraph, The New Scientist, Punch.

Career

• Writer.
• Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.
• Guest curator of the major exhibition, 'Edward Lear, 1812-1888' at the Royal Academy of Arts, London and at the National Academy of Design, New York, 1985.
• Philip and Frances Hofer Lecturer, Harvard University, 1988.
• Guest Lecturer at the Yale Center for British Art, 2000.
• Lecturer, Somerville College, Oxford, 1995-6.
• The Tennyson Society Memorial Address, Lincoln, 1988.
• Guest lecturer in universities, museums and art galleries in Europe and the United States.
• Consultant on Lear's paintings and manuscripts to all the major auction houses.
• Programme consultant to BBC TV drama documentary 'Edward Lear: On the Edge of the Sand', written by Alan Plater, 1985.
• Freelance interviewer on literary topics, BBC TV 'Town and Around', 1967-8.
• Judge for the Royal Society of Literature Award (under the W. H. Heinemann bequest), 2000-2004.
• Judge for the Winifred Holtby Prize for Regional Writing, 2000-2003.
• Has broadcast frequently, including Front Row, Conversation Piece, A Good Read, Kaleidoscope, Bookshelf, Start the Week, Woman's Hour &c.
• Hon. Governor, Harris Manchester College, Oxford, 1994-; Member of Governing Committees, Quintin Kynaston School, London, 2001-3; LEA Governor, 2004-7;
• Member of the Steering Group, First World War Digital Poetry Archive, Oxford University, 2006-.
• Member of the Society of Authors.
• Member of PEN.

Education

• Dunottar, Reigate. (A levels: Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Botany, Zoology).
• Oxford (B.A. First Class Hons, English). Senior Scholar, Somerville College.

Family

• Daughter of the late Marcus Langley FRAeS, and Helen (née Oldfield Box).
• Married to Michael Noakes, PPROI, RP. 1 daughter, 2 sons.

Contact