Citizen of the world

When Francis King returned to Oxford at the age of 24 in order to resume an education interrupted by the second world war, he had already published two novels. ‘Eager to publish more’, he decided to switch from Classics to what he saw as the easier option of English so as to leave more time for his writing. And publish more he did, with a bibliography that eventually ran to over 50 items, comprising not only novels and volumes of short stories, but poems, plays for radio and several distinguished works of non-fiction. He had an equally prolific career in literary journalism, which started during the war when J.R. Ackerley recruited him to review first poetry and then fiction for the Listener. He went on to become a long-serving contributor to a wide variety of publications, including this one. In addition, he worked tirelessly on behalf of his fellow writers, campaigning for PLR as a founder member of the Writers’ Action Group, and serving on the committees of numerous organisations, most notably as President of both English and International PEN.

Although Francis was an enormously convivial host, with a vast circle of friends, he was at his happiest when working. An early riser, even on holiday, he would be at his desk long before the rest of us were stirring from sleep, and was inclined to pre-empt rather than merely meet any deadline he had been given. He remained a consummate professional to the end: two weeks ago, aged 88, seriously ill and with little hope of recovery, he insisted from his hospital bed on getting messages to editors apologising that he would be unable to file copy.

In what now seems like a portent of his peripatetic life, Francis was born in a hotel in Switzerland. He spent his early childhood in India, but like most children of the Raj was sent to England for his education.