British Novelist and Poet. Born into a Jewish family, at age 13 he was baptized as an Anglican. Following his education at Eton College in Eton, Berkshire, England, he went into the family cigar business and became its managing director. When World War I broke out in in 1914, he served in the British Army, first in the 9th Battalion of the East Surrey Regiment and the following year he was transferred into the Royal Field Artillery He went to the Western Front as part of the British Expeditionary Force and saw action at the Battles of Loos, Ypres, and the Somme. During this time he also wrote for the Wipers Times. In October 1916 he was promoted to a staff captain for special duty in Italy and was discharged from the Army in February 1918. Following the war, he devoted his time to writing, using his wartime experiences. Prior to World War II, he was commissioned into the British Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and was discharged for health reasons in February 1941. Among his notable novels include "The Love Story of Allette Brunton" (1922), "Gerald Cranston's Lady" (1924), "Christopher Strong" (1932 - adapted into a 1933 film starring Katherine Hepburn in her second role), "Farewell Romance" (1936), "Winter of Discontent" (1942), and "World Without End" (1942). His published collection of poems include "A Song of the Guns in Flanders" (1916), "The Other Side and Other Poems" (1918), "The City of Fear and Other Poems" (1918), and "Poetical Works" (1923). In 1940 he published his autobiography. "Gilbert Frankau's Self Portrait: A Novel of His Own Life."
British Novelist and Poet. Born into a Jewish family, at age 13 he was baptized as an Anglican. Following his education at Eton College in Eton, Berkshire, England, he went into the family cigar business and became its managing director. When World War I broke out in in 1914, he served in the British Army, first in the 9th Battalion of the East Surrey Regiment and the following year he was transferred into the Royal Field Artillery He went to the Western Front as part of the British Expeditionary Force and saw action at the Battles of Loos, Ypres, and the Somme. During this time he also wrote for the Wipers Times. In October 1916 he was promoted to a staff captain for special duty in Italy and was discharged from the Army in February 1918. Following the war, he devoted his time to writing, using his wartime experiences. Prior to World War II, he was commissioned into the British Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and was discharged for health reasons in February 1941. Among his notable novels include "The Love Story of Allette Brunton" (1922), "Gerald Cranston's Lady" (1924), "Christopher Strong" (1932 - adapted into a 1933 film starring Katherine Hepburn in her second role), "Farewell Romance" (1936), "Winter of Discontent" (1942), and "World Without End" (1942). His published collection of poems include "A Song of the Guns in Flanders" (1916), "The Other Side and Other Poems" (1918), "The City of Fear and Other Poems" (1918), and "Poetical Works" (1923). In 1940 he published his autobiography. "Gilbert Frankau's Self Portrait: A Novel of His Own Life."
Bio by: William Bjornstad
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