Author+Background



At birth, **Ford Madox Ford** was actually named Ford Madox Hueffer. He was born in 1873 in southern England. Ford should not be confused with the famous painter Ford Madox Brown, who was actually his grandfather. When Ford was 46 years old, he changed his last name in honor of his grandfather. Ford attended the Praetorius School in England, but traveled throughout Europe several times in his life and spoke fluent French, German, and several other Western languages. At the age of 18, he published his first book called //The Brown Owl//. Twenty-four years later, he would write his most famous novel, //The Good Soldier//, whose original title was //The Saddest Story.// Many different life experiences influenced Ford's literary works. In 1894 he married Elsie Martindale, but their marriage grew tumultuous and the couple separated. Although Ford went on to have serious relationships with over a dozen women, he never divorced his first wife. This fact may be explained by Ford's professed Catholicism, which forbids divorce. The memory of Ford's rocky romances can be seen in //The Good Soldier//, as well as in his numerous social critiques and poems. Ford also served some time in the British regiments of World War I. His military career was shortened when the atrocities he witnessed in battle inflicted psychological trauma and Ford was sent home. Although //The Good Soldier// is named for a main character who was a military commander, the novel does not focus on the man's civil service. However, some of Ford's other works were inspired by his experience with World War I. Ford continued to work in literature throughout his life. He worked as an editor, a critic, a lecturer, and wrote prolifically until his death in 1939. Some of his works include //Parade's End, Romance,// and //The Fifth Queen// trilogy. Ford died in Deauville, France on June 26, 1939.

Bibliography Liukkonen, Petri, and Ari Pesonen Kaupunginkirjasto. "Ford Madox Ford." Www.kirjasto.sci.fi. 2008. Web. 15 Jan. 2011. .