Writer Christopher Isherwood would have celebrated his 109th birthday if he were alive today.

The twentieth century homosexual author, who remained in the closet for most of his life, would have lamented the materialism and celebrity obsessions that plague the modern world.

He was known for his warm and engaging personality; even at the height of his success and subsequent fame he maintained a keen interest in others and their literary work. His writing was

However, he often held a harsh tone when assessing himself and his own work, critical of drinking too much and not progressing professionally, he also suffered severely from hypochondria.

He is most well known for penning the books ‘The Berlin Stories’, which was adapted into the musical ‘Cabaret’, and ‘A Single Man’ both which were made into successful films.

The story of ‘A Single Man’ was largely autobiographical; Isherwood immigrated to the United States before the outbreak of World War Two from the United Kingdom and lectured at a Los Angeles university and he also had an affinity for younger men.

Isherwood remained with his partner Don Bachardy, who was 30 years his junior, until he passed away in 1986. Isherwood was 81 when he died.

Joe Cassidy