• Biography

Cecil Scott Forester (1899-1966) was an English novelist and screenwriter best known for his series of novels featuring the character Horatio Hornblower. He was born in Cairo, Egypt, to British parents, and was educated at Alleyn's School in Dulwich, London.

Early Life

Cecil Scott Forester was born Cecil Louis Troughton Smith on August 27, 1899, in Cairo, Egypt, to British parents. His father, George Smith, was a professional soldier who had served in the British Army in India and Africa. His mother, Cecil Scott, was a nurse. Forester was the youngest of four children.

Forester was educated at Alleyn's School in Dulwich, London, and then studied medicine at Guy's Hospital in London. He graduated in 1921 and worked as a ship's doctor for a few years before deciding to pursue a career in writing.

Writing Career

Forester's first novel, Payment Deferred, was published in 1926. It was a success and was adapted into a film in 1930. He went on to write several more novels, including The African Queen (1935), which was adapted into a film in 1951.

In 1937, Forester published the first novel in his Horatio Hornblower series, which followed the adventures of a British naval officer during the Napoleonic Wars. The series was a huge success and was adapted into several films and television series.

Forester also wrote several screenplays, including The African Queen and The Cruel Sea (1953). He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for The African Queen.

Later Life and Death

Forester continued to write until his death in 1966. He was awarded the Order of the British Empire in 1956 for his services to literature.

Forester died on April 2, 1966, in Fullerton, California, at the age of 66. He was buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.

Legacy

Forester's legacy lives on in his novels and screenplays. His Horatio Hornblower series is still popular today, and his screenplays have been adapted into several films and television series. He is remembered as one of the most influential English novelists and screenwriters of the 20th century.

Date modified: Apr 4, 2023
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