The Life of
Christopher Morley
Samantha Goldstein
Roslyn High School
Dr. Allyson Weseley
Roslyn
Nassau County
Early Life
• Christopher Morley was born on May 5, 1890 in
Haverford, Pennsylvania
• He came from a wealthy family and both his
parents were highly educated
• In 1906, Morley attended Haverford College and
graduated as the valedictorian
– During his time at Haverford, he participated in
drama programs, took part in writing and
acting and played sports
• For graduate school, he traveled to
London and enrolled in the New College of
Oxford University to study modern history
• In 1913 he returned to United States. He
worked as an editorial assistant at
Doubleday, Page and Co. of Long Island
• He married Helen Fairchild and had 4
children
The Beginning of His Career
• Morley’s essays, short stories, plays
and novels had a huge impact on the
world
• His first novel was completed in
1917, entitled Parnassus on Wheels
• By 1927, twelve volumes of his work
were published
• In 1920, Christopher Morley moved to Roslyn
Estates and referred to his house as the “Green
Escape” after The Bowling Green column he
wrote daily in the New York Evening Post
• Today, his house is located at 38 the Birches
• At first, he only spent his summers in Roslyn and
returned to the city for the winter
• He wrote about these travels in Return to
Winter
“It was with somewhat a heavy heart that we
prepared to leave Salamis for the winter… in the
country one is too comfortable, and there are too
many distractions. Either cider, or stars, or blue
sparkle of the furnace fire.”
How did Christopher Morley’s
writing show his personality?
•In 1921, he wrote a poem called Caught in the
Undertow
•His diction shows his wry and witty perspective
on life and love
Colin, worshipping some frail,
By self-deception sways her
Calls himself unworthy male
Hardly even fit to praise her
But this tactic insincere
In the upshot greatly grieves him
When he finds the lovely dear
Quite implicitly believes him
Controversy
• In a 1935 issue of TIME Magazine, Morley
accused Oscar Odd McIntyre of plagiarism
• He was quoted saying, “... I work hard
over my stuff, and if people are going to
read it I'd prefer them to get it in the
Saturday Review . . . under my own name
than in the Hearst papers under his."
• McIntyre responded by reiterating his
fondness for "Chris'" but said, "If it did
happen it happened unintentionally."
Making His Mark on Literary
History
• In 1939, Kitty Foyle reached the
attention of many critics
• It is about a white-collar girl who falls
in love with a young socialite,
despite the objections of his family
• The book was a best seller and was
made into an Academy Awardwinning movie in 1942
Morley and Roslyn
• Because Morley spent a lot of time in
Roslyn, he became very fond of the town
and frequently made references to it in his
writing
• Morley refused to incorporate the town’s
name in his work because “I believe it’s
one of the loveliest places in America, but
I never write about it by its name because I
don’t want a lot of people coming here to
‘sit down up it.’”
Life Outside of Literature
• Morley was one of the founders and longtime staff member of the Saturday Review
of Literature
• He created a club known as the "Three
Hours for Lunch Club"
• Out of enthusiasm for the Sherlock
Holmes stories, he became the founder of
the Baker Street Irregulars and wrote the
introduction to The Complete Sherlock
Holmes
Christopher Morley’s End
• In 1951, Morley suffered a stroke
• He died on March 28, 1957 and is
buried at the Roslyn Cemetery
What Remains of Him in the
Town of Roslyn?
• Around 1936, Morley built his cabin, which
he called the Knothole
– It was located on the rear of his Roslyn
property
– He produced most of his work in the cabin
• After he died, the cabin was moved to
Christopher Morley Park
– Today, it is operated by the county and is open
to the public
– Morley’s 100th birthday was celebrated in 1990
by Nassau County and the Knothole
Association, which was formed to save the
writing studio and keep his memory alive
Credits for Sources
• Title page picturehttp://www.nndb.com/people/209/000048065/morley1910fix.jpg
• Return to Winter- Moger, Roy W. Roslyn Then and Now.
Roslyn: The Bryant Library, 1992.
•
Caught in the Undertow- http://www.onlineliterature.com/morley/
• 1935 article in TIMEhttp://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,7488151,00.html
Bibliography
•
“Christopher Morley." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 15
December 2006. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 13 December 2006
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Morley>
•
"Columnists v. Columnist." TIME. 8 July 1935 10 December 2006
<http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,7488151,00.html>.
•
Merriman, C.D. "Christopher Morley." The Literature Network.
2005. Jalic Inc . 14 Dec 2006 <http://www.onlineliterature.com/morley/>.
•
Moger, Roy W. Roslyn Then and Now. Roslyn: The Bryant Library,
1992.