ALDOUS HUXLEY

Biographical notes

Aldous Huxley was born in Godalming in 1894, Surrey, into a family of distinguished intellectuals, he first studied at Eton College in Berkshire (1908-13). He intended to become a doctor, but he contracted keratitis and soon was almost blind. He learned to read Braille and continued his studies at Oxford (1913 -15). His first collection of poetry appeared in 1916 and two more volumes followed by 1920. He also engaged in literary journalism. He worked for the War Office in London in 1917 and then briefly as a teacher. Between 1923 and 1930 he lived for most of his time in Italy and during the 30ies he collaborated with the Peace Movement. In 1932 he published the novel Brave New World. In 1937 he left to the United States and settled in California where he worked as a screenwriter. He studied Eastern religions and wrote works on this subject. He died in 1963.

Main works:

Point Counter Point (1928) - Brave New World (1932) - Brave New World Revisited (1958) - Island (1962)

Commentary

Aldous Huxley was a novelist and a critic. His production was wide: he wrote travel books, poems, plays and essays on various topics, from art to religion. In his life he produced 47 books, showing great versatility both in form and in style.

Brave New World

Among his most famous novels is Brave New World (1932), which he wrote in four months in 1931. It is the description of a futuristic society in which art and religion have been abolished, while society is totally controlled through technology. In this way he seemed to warn that a society based on technological and scientific development would be a nightmare. Genetic engineering, mutations, and bio-technological advancements will take man away from nature. It suggests that the price of universal happiness will be the sacrifice of freedom of choice, love and religion.