author
W. A. (William Aubrey) Darlington
1890–1979
A witty British journalist and drama critic, he is best remembered for the comic fantasy Alf's Button and for decades of sharp-eyed writing about the theater. His career moved easily between fiction, criticism, and memoir, giving his work both polish and personality.
1 Audiobook
Alf's Button
by W. A. (William Aubrey) Darlington
About the author
Born in Taunton in 1890, he was educated at Shrewsbury School and St John's College, Cambridge, before serving in the British Army during the First World War. He went on to build a long career in journalism, including work as a drama critic for The Daily Telegraph and as a London drama correspondent for The New York Times.
Alongside his newspaper career, he wrote fiction and nonfiction. His best-known book was the 1920 comic novel Alf's Button, a light fantasy about a soldier and a magic button; its popularity led to several screen adaptations. He also published novels such as Egbert and Carpet Slippers, as well as later books including the autobiography I Do What I Like, The World of Gilbert and Sullivan, and the memoir Six Thousand and One Nights: Forty Years a Drama Critic.
He died in 1979, but his writing still carries the appeal of a lively, intelligent observer who knew both the stage and the reading public well. For listeners today, he offers a mix of theatrical insight, humor, and an easy confidence that feels very much of his era in the best way.