Poet and Critic. Brian Howard was one of the Bright Young Things of the early 20th century. His contempoaries were Harold Acton, Cecil Beaton, Evelyn Waugh, Henry Yorke,The Mitford Family, Robert Byron and Olive Messell. An Englishman, his parents Lura Chess and Francis Gassaway "Tudie" Howard were Americans. Howard and Harold Acton co-founded both the Eton Candle, a literary magazine and the Eton Society of Arts. He was part of the infamous Bruno Hat art exposition scheme, in which he produced all the artwork such as Adoration of the Magi with bits of rope and paint. Tom Mitford, in taped on beard and fake german accent played the part of Hat. While the event, a haux, was attended by many luminaries of Britain, the artwork was a flop and was the genesis of failure which seemed to haunt Brian Howard throuout his life. Brian Howard became a leading figure in the party circuit, hosting notorious parties:"Swimming Pool Party" in 1928 and then "The Great Urban Dionysia" in 1929. During the 1930s he traveled extensively, drifting around England and fashionable spots throughout Europe,having affairs and partying. A diary entry in th 40's reveled: "Drink has become a No. 1 problem".Brians health started to deteriorate and he had tuberculosis that he said he had contracted in Spain, along with that his alcoholism was taking its toll.Brian Howard committed suicide by an overdose of sedatives after his boyfriend Sam died from accidental asphxia from a gas leak. He was 52. After a double funeral they were buried together at the Caucade de Nice cemetery.
Poet and Critic. Brian Howard was one of the Bright Young Things of the early 20th century. His contempoaries were Harold Acton, Cecil Beaton, Evelyn Waugh, Henry Yorke,The Mitford Family, Robert Byron and Olive Messell. An Englishman, his parents Lura Chess and Francis Gassaway "Tudie" Howard were Americans. Howard and Harold Acton co-founded both the Eton Candle, a literary magazine and the Eton Society of Arts. He was part of the infamous Bruno Hat art exposition scheme, in which he produced all the artwork such as Adoration of the Magi with bits of rope and paint. Tom Mitford, in taped on beard and fake german accent played the part of Hat. While the event, a haux, was attended by many luminaries of Britain, the artwork was a flop and was the genesis of failure which seemed to haunt Brian Howard throuout his life. Brian Howard became a leading figure in the party circuit, hosting notorious parties:"Swimming Pool Party" in 1928 and then "The Great Urban Dionysia" in 1929. During the 1930s he traveled extensively, drifting around England and fashionable spots throughout Europe,having affairs and partying. A diary entry in th 40's reveled: "Drink has become a No. 1 problem".Brians health started to deteriorate and he had tuberculosis that he said he had contracted in Spain, along with that his alcoholism was taking its toll.Brian Howard committed suicide by an overdose of sedatives after his boyfriend Sam died from accidental asphxia from a gas leak. He was 52. After a double funeral they were buried together at the Caucade de Nice cemetery.
