Julian Gustave Symons was a British crime writer and poet. He also wrote social and military history, biography and studies of literature. Julian Symons was born in London. He was a younger brother, and later the biographer, of the writer A. J. A. Symons. He left school at 14. He founded the poetry magazine Twentieth Century Verse in 1937, editing it for two years. "He turned to crime writing in a light–hearted way before the war and soon afterwards established himself as a leading exponent of it, though his use of irony to show the violence behind the respectable masks of society... place many of his books on the level of the orthodox novel." In World War II he applied for recognition as an anti-capitalist conscientious objector, but ended up in the Royal Armoured Corps 1942 to 1944, when he was invalided out with a non-battle-related arm injury. After a period as an advertising copywriter, he became a full-time writer in 1947. During his career he won two Edgar Awards from the Mystery Writers of America and, in 1982, received the MWA's Grand Master Award. Symons served as the president of the Detection Club from 1976 till 1985.
more
| Birthdate: | 1912 |
| Birthplace: | London |
| Date of death: | November 23, 1994 |
| Also known as: | Julian Gustave Symons |