1901 - The Horniman Connection

Whatever befell the young Reggie in the 10 years after life in his grandmother's home in Jersey in 1891. It is fair to say that by March of 1901 his circumstances were very different. Reggie attended the Kensington school of art circa 1899 but his sights were set on a theatrical career.

Reggie spent night of the 1901 census at an address in St. Stephens mansions which was near Smith Square in the City of Westminster. He was recorded as a visitor and was presumably the guest of one of the other 2 occupants of number 33. Roy Horniman and his brother Benjamin.

Roy and Benjamin Horniman were the sons of the Paymaster in Chief of the royal Navy and distinguished sailor William Horniman. Their mother was from an aristocratic Greek family. Their father had died 6 years earlier. Roy and Benjamin, aged 31 and 27 respectively lived well. Neither were then married. Indeed a contemporary described Roy as "a well-to-do batchelor who knew what did and did not suit him, marriage being in the latter category and the social round in the former"

Roy had already achieved some success in the arts. He had gone on the stage at 19 and described himself as a Actor, vocalist and author on his census return.  He would shortly go on to lease and manage the Criterion theatre in London. In 1901 he was a rising star in the literary world. In the previous year one of his early novels 'The Sin of Atlantis' had been published by Chatto and Windnes and had sold well. By 1904 he would have added 'The living Buddha', 'That fast Miss Blount' and 'The Magnificent Bellamy - An Extravaganza' to his canon. The last of those novels was filmed three times , firstly as 'A gentleman of Paris in 1927 in which featured 'The Marquis of Marignan as a seducer who flirts with every girl he meets...' 'The Magnificent Bellamy' and it's excoriating portrait of one 'Reggie Van Deleur' is a suitable subject for a post all of it's own.

Kind Hearts & Coronets 1949

Roy Horniman went on to write 'Israel Rank' in 1907. Long out of print it has recently been made available by Faber. It is of course better known as the fabulous film 'Kind Hearts and Coronets' featuring Alec Guinness.  You can buy it here as a paperback or here at a bargain price on Kindle.

Roy Horniman embraced the cause of India. He was a member of the British committee of the Indian National Congress and was an eloquent speaker for the anti-vivisection movement.

He died in London, in the Autumn of 1930 aged 62.