Arthur Bingham Walkley

Born in 1855, Arthur Bingham Walkley built an unusual double career: by day he worked for the British Post Office, and by night he became a widely read critic of the stage. He spent more than forty years in the General Post Office, while also writing criticism that made him a familiar and respected voice in London literary life.

Walkley is especially remembered for his drama criticism, most notably for The Times, where his reviews were known for intelligence, clarity, and wit rather than showy pronouncements. He wrote on theatre, letters, and French literature, and his interest in modern European writing led him to translate works by Maurice Maeterlinck for English audiences.

He died in 1926, but his reputation has lasted because he stood at the meeting point of public life, journalism, and the theatre. For readers today, he offers a picture of a critic who took drama seriously while still writing with lightness, precision, and personality.