Symons, Julian (Gustave) (1912-1994)

English novelist, poet, and critic. In 1937 he founded, and edited until 1939, the magazine Twentieth Century Verse. Confusions about X (1939) was his own first book of poetry, of which over the years he published four more. At first a conscientious objector during World War II, he subsequently served in the 57th Tank regiment. The Immaterial Murder Case (1945) was the first of his many crime novels, for which he is best known. He was instrumental in the founding of the Crime Writers' Association (1953) and was president of the Detection Club 1976-85.

His novels, in which he develops his theme with wit and intellectual flair, include The End of Solomon Grundy (1964), The Man Who Lost His Wife (1970), and The Blackheath Poisonings (1978), one of several works with a Victorian setting.

Symons was born in London, younger brother of A J A Symons (1900-1941), biographer of Frederick Rolfe and bibliographer. After leaving school at 14, he went out to work as a clerk while reading widely. He succeeded George Orwell in 1947 as literary columnist on the Manchester Evening News.