Eric Malpass

Who was Eric Malpass?

Eric Lawson Malpass was an English novelist noted for his humorous and witty descriptions of rural family life, in particular that of his creation, the extended Pentecost family. However, Malpass also wrote historical fiction, ranging in scope from the late Middle Ages to Edwardian England. Malpass acquired his most devoted readership on the Continent, particularly in Germany, where most of his books were translated.

Born in Derby and educated at King Henry VIII School, Coventry, Malpass, while writing in his spare time, worked in a bank in Long Eaton Derbyshire. He would return home after a day's work and spend the evening writing. He was a regular contributor to Argosy, a short story magazine although it took him many years before he was first published. Many other short story magazines took his work and in 1955 he won the Observer short story competition. His first book, Beefy Jones, soon followed and then Mornings at Seven which received good reviews in the UK – but poor sales – and which then rocketed to the Best Seller List in Germany. It remained at the top of the List for three years, after which the powers that be stipulated that none one could remain there for so long in future. After his initial successes, especially with Morning's at Seven, he turned to writing full-time.