Aldous Huxley

Aldous Huxley was born into a family of noted scientists and writers. His grandfather, a biologist, was instrumental in popularizing Darwin's theory of evolution. Huxley’s father was the editor of Cornhill magazine, while his mother was related to the English poet Matthew Arnold. Huxley was a thoughtful, imaginative child, though his family teased him for his grumbling disposition. He attended Eton and Oxford and was skilled and knowledgeable in both literature and science. Though his hopes of a medical career were dashed when an eye disease almost blinded him at 16, he soon built a career as a writer. He wrote prolifically throughout the 1920's, publishing numerous essays, sketches, caricatures, and four novels. Huxley published Brave New World, his most successful novel, in 1932. As war loomed in Europe, Huxley, a pacifist, moved to California, along with his wife, Maria, and their son, Matthew. His attempt to write screenplays failed, but he developed an interest in hallucinogenic drugs that led to a book about his drug experiences, The Doors of Perception. In 1963, the same year he died, Huxley published his last book, Island, which depicted a utopia in contrast to the dystopia of Brave New World.