SKU: 58119343971

"Brian Howard: Portrait Of A Failure" 1968 LANCASTER, Marie-Jaqueline

Sale price$100.32 Regular price$111.47
Save 10%

Shipping Estimate
USA
  • USA
  • CAN

Ships within 48 hours · Estimated delivery Jul 12 - Jul 17

Promo Codes Available:

For Your Every Summer RSVP, with Code: SUMMER15

Description

"Brian Howard: Portrait Of A Failure" 1968 LANCASTER, Marie-Jaqueline[639] pp. LANCASTER, Marie Jaqueline [edited by] Anthony Blond Ltd 1968 9 1 4" x 6 1 2" The jacket illustration is from a portrait by John Banting Fine Fine Scroll Down for (19) Additional Scans: Brian Christian de Claiborne Howard (13 March 1905 15 January 1958) was an English poet and later a writer for the New Statesman. Biography Howard was born to American parents in Hascombe, Surrey, of Protestant descent, a descendant of Benjamin Franklin, and

[639] pp.

LANCASTER, Marie-Jaqueline [edited by]

Anthony Blond Ltd

1968

9 1/4" x 6 1/2"

The jacket illustration is from a portrait by John Banting

Fine/ Fine

Scroll Down for (19) Additional Scans:

Brian Christian de Claiborne Howard (13 March 1905 – 15 January 1958) was an English poet and later a writer for the New Statesman.

Biography
Howard was born to American parents in Hascombe, Surrey, of Protestant descent, a descendant of Benjamin Franklin, and brought up in London; his father Francis Gassaway Howard - son of the writer Frank Gassaway, known as 'Derrick Dodd' - was an associate of James Whistler.

He was educated at Eton College, where he was one of the Eton Arts Society group including Robert Byron, Harold Acton, Oliver Messel, Anthony Powell and Henry Yorke. He entered Christ Church, Oxford in 1923, not without difficulty. He was prominent in the group later known as the Oxford Wits. He was part of the Hypocrites' Club that included Harold Acton, Lord David Cecil, L.P. Hartley and Evelyn Waugh.


Railway Club at Oxford, conceived by John Sutro, dominated by Harold Acton. Left to right, back: Henry Yorke, Roy Harrod, Henry Weymouth, David Plunket Greene, Harry Stavordale, Brian Howard. Middle row: Michael Rosse, John Sutro, Hugh Lygon, Harold Acton, Bryan Guinness, Patrick Balfour, Mark Ogilvie-Grant, Johnny Drury-Lowe; front: porters.
At Oxford Howard was part of the Railway Club, which included: Henry Yorke, Roy Harrod, Henry Thynne, 6th Marquess of Bath, David Plunket Greene, Edward Henry Charles James Fox-Strangways, 7th Earl of Ilchester, Brian Howard, Michael Parsons, 6th Earl of Rosse, John Sutro, Hugh Lygon, Harold Acton, Bryan Guinness, 2nd Baron Moyne, Patrick Balfour, 3rd Baron Kinross, Mark Ogilvie-Grant, John Drury-Lowe.

It has been suggested that Howard was Waugh's model for Anthony Blanche in Brideshead Revisited. But Waugh wrote, to Lord Baldwin, "There is an aesthetic bugger who sometimes turns up in my novels under various names—that was 2/3 Brian [Howard] and 1/3 Harold Acton. People think it was all Harold, who is a much sweeter and saner man [than Howard]."

At this time he had already been published as a poet, in A. R. Orage's The New Age, and the final Sitwell Wheels anthology. He used the pseudonyms "Jasper Proude" and "Charles Orange." His verse also was in Oxford Poetry 1924. His poetry was admired and promoted by Edith Sitwell in the late 1920s.

In the late 1920s, he was a key figure among London's "Bright Young Things"—a privileged, fashionable and bohemian set of relentless party-goers, satirised in such novels as Evelyn Waugh's 1930 Vile Bodies where the character of Miles Malpractice owes something to Howard. Apart from Waugh, Howard knew all this circle, including Nancy Mitford, Henry Yorke, Harold Acton, and especially Allanah Harper and Nancy Cunard. He maintained contact with both throughout his life.

In 1929 he was famously involved in the "Bruno Hat" hoax when the fashionable Hon Mr. & Mrs. Bryan Guinness promoted a spoof London art exhibition by an apparently unknown German painter Bruno Hat (impersonated by the German-speaking Tom Mitford, brother of Nancy and Diana Mitford—the latter at the time Mrs. Guinness, a socialite, arts' patron and friend of Howard, Lytton Strachey, Evelyn Waugh, Boris Anrep, Dora Carrington, John Betjeman and other artistic and literary figures, before her second marriage to British fascist leader Sir Oswald Mosley). Bruno Hat's paintings were the work of Brian Howard.

Howard is credited with coining the phrase, "Anybody over the age of 30 seen in a bus has been a failure in life", often wrongly attributed to Margaret Thatcher. According to Daily Telegraph correspondent and historian, Hugo Vickers, (writing in November 2006), the author was Brian Howard. The phrase came into wider use when used by Loelia, Duchess of Westminster, in her memoir Grace and Favour (1961).

Subsequently he led a very active social life, tried to come to terms with his homosexuality, and published only one substantial poetry collection God Save the King (1930, Hours Press). He was active as a poet during the Spanish Civil War, but did not ultimately invest in his work with seriousness. He drank heavily and used drugs.

He had a long affair with Sandy Baird, whom he knew from Eton. Baird was killed in action in 1943 at 33 years old.

During World War II Howard took part in the Dunkirk evacuation and later worked for MI5 but was dismissed from the War Office in June 1942, after which he was conscripted to the Royal Air Force and given a low-level clerk's job at Bomber Command, High Wycombe. An Air Ministry note on his file says he should never be given a commission. Transferred to another posting, where he referred to his commanding officer as "Colonel Cutie" (an appellation Evelyn Waugh gave his rebellious rogue Basil Seal in the novel Put Out More Flags), Howard was dismissed in December 1944, by which time he had formed a longstanding open relationship with Sam Langford, an Irishman serving in the Air Sea Rescue.

After the war, Howard drifted around Europe with Sam, continuing to write occasional articles and reviews for the New Statesman, the BBC and others, fitfully working on an uncompleted biography of the gay English writer Norman Douglas (author of the novel South Wind) and doing no substantial work. Indiscreetly promiscuous, drinking heavily, taking drugs and behaving outrageously, they were expelled in turn from Monaco, France, Italy and Spain, the French authorities noting their "moralité douteuse" (dubious morality).

Not surprisingly, he suffered from bad health in the 1950s, and committed suicide by taking an overdose of sedatives after the accidental death of his lover, Sam Langford (1926–1958), who died suddenly but naturally in Howard's bath. They were buried alongside each other at Russian Orthodox Cemetery, Nice.

Evelyn Waugh wrote: "I used to know Brian Howard well—a dazzling young man to my innocent eyes. In later life he became very dangerous—constantly attacking people with his fists in public places—so I kept clear of him. He was consumptive but the immediate cause of his death was a broken heart."

Marie-Jaqueline Lancaster wrote a biography of Howard. His long time friend Allanah Harper contributed useful anecdotes, but she objected to his being called a "failure" and to the emphasis on his homosexuality.

Shipping Notes
  • Free Standard Shipping on $100+ Orders to the USA.
  • Except Preorder products are shipped in 48 hours.
  • Delivery to the USA:
  1. Standard Shipping : 3-10 business days
  • If time is of the essence, please consider selecting expedited delivery for faster service.
Exchange/Return Notes
  • We offer a 30-day return/exchange service after receiving.
  • Final sale items are not eligible for returns or exchanges.
  • To process your return/exchange, please contact us at [email protected]
  • Please click here for more details>>> Return & Exchange Policy
SKU: 58119343971

Discover Niche Categories That Outsell

Top-Converting Item to Boost Your Average Order

4.4 ★★★★★
Based on 1716 reviews
Sort
Highest Rating
Newest First
Oldest First
Product Reviews
J
Verified Purchase
Jh
Charlottesville, US
★★★★★ 5
Dogs love them
Size: X-Large, Color: Textured Ring
Great for aggressive chewers . hold up well
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2026
S
Verified Purchase
Sarah Hood
Whiting, US
★★★★★ 5
Great for power chewers
Size: Large, Color: Bundle
Nothing beats Nylabone!!! Our lab has destroyed everything else… even the extra durable black kongs. Finally a chew toy that is super durable and great size.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on June 12, 2026
S
Verified Purchase
supermommy
Omaha, US
★★★★★ 5
Best Dog Bone
Flavor Name: Beef, Size: Large
This is one of the best bones I've seen and I have always lived with dogs. The shape makes it so ergonomic for the dog, both of mine hold the bone down with both paws then chew the part standing up. One of my dogs was able to enjoy this while wearing a cone after surgery, supporting her natural behavior and keeping her busy. These are great for our 11 month old puppy because he was struggling to figure out how to brace the bone without it rubbing his paws, so was bracing on furniture and getting in trouble. Now he can hold the T part easily and doesn't need to use other objects he shouldn't chew by accident. They are durable, too. I got these about 2 months ago and they are barely worn with a rotty/pit/Shepard mix male puppy. If you know dogs, you know that means this is a solid durable bone! I will for sure keep these on hand for years as they are a preferred chew in my house!
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2026
B
Verified Purchase
Baibhav Bhattarai
Draper, US
★★★★★ 5
Doggy Delight
Flavor Name: Beef, Size: Medium
Ever felt like your dog’s chew toys are on the fritz, ending up shredded like yesterday’s sandwich? The SPOT Bam-bones PLUS T Bone is here to save the day, offering a durable and tasty solution for aggressive chewers and teething puppies alike. These bamboo fiber and nylon chews are like the super-tough treats your dog dreams of, providing hours of gnawing joy without the splintering mess. My bulldog, who treats his chew toys like they’re part of a survival game, has found his perfect match in these T Bones. The beef flavor is irresistible, making them a favorite among picky pups and ensuring they stay engaged without turning into edible confetti. The 6-inch size is perfect for keeping his jaws busy without overwhelming his mouth – a win-win for both of us. The non-splintering design is a blessing, preventing any painful encounters with broken chews and keeping our home safe from unexpected trips to the vet. Plus, the durable construction means these chews last longer than my patience during a doggy tantrum – and that’s saying something! However, the T Bones can sometimes feel like they’re too tough, requiring a bit of extra chewing to fully enjoy – turning every chew session into a mini workout for your dog’s jaws. Additionally, the price point is slightly higher than standard chews, but the durability and quality make it worth every penny. Overall, the SPOT Bam-bones PLUS T Bone is a fantastic choice for dog owners looking to provide their pets with a long-lasting and enjoyable chew experience. It’s tough, tasty, and built to withstand even the most enthusiastic chewers. A solid 5-star rating for its durability and flavor, with a tiny star lost to its occasional toughness challenges.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2024
A
Verified Purchase
Amazon Customer
New York, US
★★★★★ 5
The Ultimate Solution for Power Chewers!
Flavor Name: Beef, Size: Medium
I have a Pitbull mix who can usually destroy "tough" toys in minutes, but the Bam-Bones Plus is a total game-changer. The bamboo and nylon blend is incredibly dense; it satisfies that natural urge to chew without splintering like real wood or falling apart like rubber. It wears down slowly and safely, giving my dog weeks of use rather than minutes. ​Smart, Functional Design ​The T-bone shape is brilliant because of the "paw-grip" base—it makes it so easy for my dog to hold it steady while she works on it. I’ve also noticed her teeth looking much cleaner since we started using this, as the raised textures act like a natural toothbrush. Plus, the infused beef scent keeps her interested much longer than a plain nylon bone ever could. ​Final Verdict ​This is a must-have for any owner of a large or aggressive chewer. It’s safe, long-lasting, and provides excellent mental stimulation.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on April 16, 2026

recommand products