Keble Howard

Keble Howard was the pen name of John Keble Bell (8 June 1875 – 29 March 1928). He was an English writer and journalist, who wrote a large number of novels, short stories, sketches and plays, mainly light comic pieces, often depicting suburban life. One contemporary literary commentator described Howard as "a highly successful novelist and a moderately successful playwright".

Life
John Keble Bell was born in Basingstoke in 1875, the third of the twelve children of the Reverend George Edward Bell. Soon after his birth, his father was appointed Vicar of Henley-in-Arden, Warwickshire and it was here that John grew up.

He studied at Worcester College, Oxford University, with the intention of becoming a clergyman. He however became disillusioned with the Church and, not attending his final year due to lack of funds, finally failed his degree.  He then briefly worked as a schoolmaster before becoming a journalist. After short spells on the Bicester Advertiser and the Press Association, in 1899 he joined The Sketch, a weekly magazine covering high society, fashion and theatre, working first as assistant editor then, from 1902, as editor. In 1904 he moved from The Sketch to the Daily Mail to act as dramatic critic, leaving in 1908 to concentrate on writing and the theatre. He however continued to contribute a weekly column to The Sketch under the heading Motley Notes, his final piece appearing on 14 March 1928, two weeks before his death.

He had been a published author of novels and short stories since 1901, with his first play in 1906. He wrote under the name 'Keble Howard', so as not to be confused with his brother, R. S Warren Bell who also worked as a journalist and writer. He often used 'Keble Howard' for other business matters, but never formally changed his name. Howard was involved in the production of his plays, both in the West End and touring, and sometimes acted in them.
 Martha Plays the Fairy (1907)
 Charles, his Friend (1907)
 The Dramatist at Home (1909)
 Come Michaelmas (1909)
 The Girl Who Could Not Lie (1911) 
 The Embarrassed Butler (1912)
 Dropping the Pilot (1913)
 The Cheerful Knave (1914)
 The Green Flag (1915)
 The Test Kiss (1918)
 Lazy Lubin (in America) (1920)
 Sweet William (1921)
 The Smiths of Surbiton (1922)
 Puss in the Corner (1923)
 An Order to View (1923)
 All in Train (1924)
 Lord Babs (1925)

Film adaptations
A number of films have been made based on the novels and plays of Keble Howard.

 
 The God in the Garden (1921) 
 Miss Charity (1921)
 King of the Castle (1926)
 Lord Babs (1932)
 The Fast Lady (1963)

Notes and References

External links
Plays by Keble Howard on Great War Theatre

Category:1875 births
Category:1928 deaths
Category:English dramatists and playwrights
Category:20th-century British dramatists and playwrights
Category:20th-century English writers
Category:English humorists