Knoblock, Edward
Entry updated 12 September 2022. Tagged: Author, Theatre.
(1874-1945) US-born playwright and author born Knoblauch; in UK from 1897, changing his name to Knoblock in 1916 when he became a British citizen; during World War One he served in the intelligence service. Most of his plays were nonfantastic, including collaborations with other authors like Arnold Bennett and J B Priestley, though his most popular drama, Kismet: An "Arabian Night" in Three Acts (performed 19 April 1911 Garrick Theatre, London; 1911), is an Arabian Fantasy [see The Encyclopedia of Fantasy under links below]; it was filmed several times, beginning in 1914, and was adapted as a musical in 1953. He is of sf interest for his first novel, The Ant Heap (1929), whose Scientist Antihero protagonist attempts in the very Near Future to create a race of insect-like creatures to replace Homo sapiens. [JC]
Edward Gustav Knoblock
born New York: 7 April 1874
died London: 19 July 1945
works (highly selected)
- Kismet: An "Arabian Night" in Three Acts (New York: George H Doran Company, 1911) [play: first performed 19 April 1911 Garrick Theatre, London: hb/]
- The Ant Heap (London: Chapman and Hall, 1929) [hb/]
links
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