Andro Linklater: Difference between revisions

Andro Ian Robert Linklater was the youngest son of [[Eric Linklater]], a poet, and [[Marjorie MacIntyre]], an arts campaigner. His brother is journalist, [[Magnus Linklater]] and his sisters are the voice expert [[Kristin Linklater]] and painter Alison Linklater.<ref name="Obituary Guardian">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/nov/21/andro-linklater |title=Andro Linklater obituary |work=[[The Guardian]] |first=George |last=Gibson |date=2013-11-21 November 2013 |accessdate=3 January 2016-01-03}}</ref> His nephew, son of Kristin, is film actor [[Hamish Linklater]].

He was educated at [[Belhaven Hill School]], [[Winchester College]] and [[New College, Oxford]], where he read Modern History.<ref name="Obituary Guardian" /> At the end of the 1960s he lived in the United States, but returned to Britain to teach in Scotland and London, before turning to writing after his father's death in 1974.

His book ''Measuring America'' led to a series of books on American history, about which he was an eloquent speaker.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pritzkermilitary.org/whats_on/pritzker-military-presents/andro-linklater-fabric-america/ |title=Andro Linklater: The Fabric of America |publisher= [[Pritzker Military Museum & Library]] |date=2007-06-21 June 2007 |accessdate=3 September 2014-09-03}}</ref>

Linklater's book ''Why Spencer Perceval Had To Die'' focuses on the [[Assassination of Spencer Perceval|assassination of British Prime Minister Spencer Perceval]], looking at the conspiracy theories surrounding it, and revealing the historical context. [[Antony Beevor]] has called it "a beautifully written portrait".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bloomsbury.com/Why-Spencer-Perceval-Had-to-Die/Andro-Linklater/books/details/9781408828403 |title=Why Spencer Perceval Had to Die |publisher=Bloomsbury |date= |accessdate=2013-11-21 November 2013}}</ref>

His work appeared in ''Prospect Magazine'',<ref>{{cite web|last=Linklater |first=Andro |url=http://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/2002/08/lifelibertyproperty/ |title=Life, liberty, property |publisher=Prospectmagazine.co.uk |date=2002-08-20 August 2002 |accessdate=2013-11-21 November 2013}}</ref> ''The Spectator'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spectator.co.uk/search/search.thtml?search=Andro%20Linklater&a=816&s=&t=&y= |title=Blog |publisherwork=The Spectator |dateaccessdate=21 November |accessdate=2013-11-21}}</ref> ''The Sunday Times'', ''The Guardian'', ''The Daily Telegraph'', ''Reader's Digest'' and ''Daily Mail''.

Linklater was married to photographer [http://marielouiseavery.photodeck.com Marie-Louise Avery] and lived in rural Kent. He had a heart attack after a day of typically strenuous cycling while researching his next book on the island of [[Eigg]],<ref name="Obituary Guardian"/> and died in Edinburgh Royal Infirmary a week later. His obituary in ''The Times'' said that "He took time to help aspiring writers, wrote eloquent prayers to be recited in his church, and regularly took up the cudgels on behalf of local causes."<ref>''Andro Linklater'', Obituary, ''The Times'', 8 November 2013.</ref>