Introduction

Aldous Huxley

Walt Disney may have rejected Aldous Huxley’s screenplay of Alice in Wonderland because it used too many big words, but the rest of the world really appreciated Huxley’s writing. Had it not been for a disease that affected his eyesight, though, Huxley might never have become a famous author. Born in 1894, he came from a family of distinguished scientists and wanted to follow in their footsteps. His poor vision, however, forced him to give up that dream. Instead, he first turned to teaching, which Huxley proved not very good at...Lucky for the literary world. He then began to focus solely on his writing, digging deeper into himself through practiced meditation, until he eventually produced his masterpiece, Brave New World, in 1932.

Essential Facts

1. Huxley was denied U.S. citizenship (though he lived in the States for thirty years) because he refused to play any part in the military defense of the United States.
2. George Orwell, author of the books 1984 and Animal Farm, was one of Huxley’s students.
3. Huxley took the drug LSD while he lay on his death bed.
4. Huxley died on the same day as President John F. Kennedy and C. S. Lewis, famed author of The Chronicles of Narnia.
5. Huxley is so influential he’s even managed to penetrate pop culture. The Beatles used a picture of him on the cover of their Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album.