Christopher Hassall

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Christopher Vernon Hassall (24 March 1912 – 26 April 1963) was an English actor, dramatist, librettist, lyricist and poet, who found his greatest fame in a memorable musical partnership with the actor and composer Ivor Novello after working together in the same touring company. He was also a noted biographer of Rupert Brooke (1964, Faber and Faber) and Edward Marsh (1958, James Tait Black Memorial Prize).

Born in London and educated at Brighton College, he married the actress Eve Lynett with whom he had a son and a daughter. His daughter was the actress Imogen Hassall (god daughter of Novello), who appeared in several British films in the sixties and seventies. He lived at Tonford Manor a house by the River Stour on the outskirts of Canterbury with a mediaeval stone tower. At Thanington Church nearby is a small pane of glass engraved in his memory.

He died on a train at Rochester, Kent on April 26, 1963 after suffering a heart attack whilst running for the train to see his daughter play at the Royal Opera House. He was 51.

[edit] Selected credits

• The Merry Widow (1955) (TV) adaptation
• King's Rhapsody (1955) adaptation
• The Dark Avenger, also known as The Warriors (USA) (1955) — lyricist of "Bella Marie"
• Dance Hall (1950) — lyricist of "You're Only Dreaming"
• Glamorous Night (1935) — lyricist
• Careless Rapture (1936) lyricist. (Music by Ivor Novello).
• Song of Simeon libretto - Nativity Masque by Sir Malcolm Arnold.
• Troilus and Cressida libretto / Chaucer-adaptation - Opera by Sir William Walton.