Laurie Lee
(1914-1997), Poet and prose writerLaurence Edward Alan ('Laurie') Lee
Sitter in 15 portraits
Lee is best known for his autobiography, Cider With Rosie (1959), a vivid account of his Cotswolds childhood following the First World War. He left school aged fifteen, and in 1934 moved from Gloucestershire to London. He wrote poetry while working as a labourer and spending his evenings in Soho cafés. Lee also worked as a journalist, a scriptwriter and a documentary film-maker for the GPO. He published his first volume of poetry, The Sun My Monument, in 1944. Lee's travels in Spain during the 1930s and 40s are reflected in several of his works, including As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning (1969) and A Moment of War (1991), which presents a vivid depiction of a young man's experiences fighting as a Republican volunteer against Franco's forces.
by Ida Kar
quarter-plate film negative, 1956
NPG x139613
Laurie Lee; Katherine ('Kathy') Francesca Lee (née Polge)
by Ida Kar
quarter-plate film negative, 1956
NPG x139614
Laurie Lee; Katherine ('Kathy') Francesca Lee (née Polge)
by Ida Kar
quarter-plate film negative, 1956
NPG x139615
Katherine ('Kathy') Francesca Lee (née Polge); Laurie Lee
by Ida Kar
quarter-plate film negative, 1956
NPG x139616
by Ida Kar
quarter-plate film negative, 1956
NPG x139617
by Ida Kar
quarter-plate film negative, 1956
NPG x139618
by Ida Kar
vintage bromide print, 1956
NPG x88804
by Ida Kar
vintage bromide print, 1956
NPG x88805
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