Name Vivien Noakes Role Biographer | Died February 17, 2011 Spouse Michael Noakes (m. 1960) | |
Books Edward Lear: the life of a wanderer Education Somerville College, Oxford, Harris Manchester College, Oxford | ||
Vivien Noakes (née Langley; 16 February 1937 – 17 February 2011) was a British biographer, editor and critic. She was a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.
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She was born Vivien Mary Langley, daughter of noted aeronautical engineer Marcus Langley and educated at Dunottar School, but left with A-levels. It was not until later in life that she took her degree at Manchester College, Oxford, and Somerville College, Oxford, where she was subsequently lecturer.
She lectured at Harvard University and at the Yale Center for British Art. She was an expert on Edward Lear and on the literature of World War I.
Personal life
She was married to the painter Michael Noakes, in collaboration with whom she produced The Daily Life of The Queen: An Artist's Diary (2000); the couple had three children: Anya, Jonathan and Benedict.
Death
She died of cancer the day after her 74th birthday, a month after suffering a stroke.