E. E. Speight Explained

Ernest Edwin Speight
Birth Date:1871 12, df=yes
Birth Place:Bradford, Yorkshire, England
Death Place:Ootacamund, India
Nationality:English
Other Names:E E Speight
Known For:Lexicography, educationalist, philosopher, poet, anthropologist, Publisher
Occupation:Professor of English, author

Ernest Edwin Speight (6 December 1871 – 17 September 1949), usually known as E E Speight, was a Yorkshireman who travelled in Japan and India and was a professor of English for twenty years at the Imperial University, Tokyo, Japan and also at the Fourth Higher School, Kanazawa, then for a further twenty years at the Osmania University, Hyderabad, India. In India he made a study of the Nilgiri hill tribes and was working on a Toda grammar at his death[1] [2]

In Speight's youth he was a friend of W. B. Yeats, A. E. Housman and George Bernard Shaw, in his latter years of Tagore, Aurobindo, Mohandas K Gandhi, and Prince Peter of Greece and Denmark for whom he reviewed some of his writings.

In addition to teaching, Speight wrote a substantial number of English textbooks, some of which remain in use in the 21st-century English syllabus in India.[3] Speight also wrote fiction, poetry, music, and edited anthologies.

With his business partner R. H. Walpole, Speight issued The Saracen's Head Library (Mary Kingsley Travel Books) book series published by the E. E. Speight & R. H. Walpole publishing house based in Teignmouth, in Devon.[4] [5] [6]

Personal life

Speight was married twice. On 11 July 1899 he married Ragna Grõn (11 July 1876 – 3 May 1953) of Norway who travelled to Japan overland by train through Russia from Norway twice with their young son Arthur, and he later married Doris Allix (10 July 1901 – 22 May 1991) in India with whom he had two sons, Peter and Michael.

Honours

Speight was awarded the Fifth Class of the Order of the Rising Sun by the Emperor of Japan for services to teaching, and was allowed this honour by the King.[7]

Bibliography

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Ernest Speight – A Portrait. Walsh. R R. 15 April 1953. The Sunday Statesman . During his retirement he lived alone, devoting himself to the care of his fascinating library and extensive collection of Japanese art treasures and antiques. and the study of the language and customs and mythology of the Nilgiri hill tribes, the Badagas. He was compiling a Toda grammar when he died.
  2. News: Memories of Ernest Speight. Peter. Prince of Greece and Denmark. 20 April 1953. The Statesman . On September 17 at 8 am he had the second heart attack, which killed him ... I went over to Mount Stewart to put seals on his lonely dwelling with the manager of the local branch of the Imperial Bank of India.
  3. Web site: An Ode to Primer English. Loathta. A K. 10 April 2004. The Tribune. 27 May 2010. Chandigarh, India. A larger part of English syllabus for classes below BA and BSc should be that of primer English. Equal attention should be paid to grammar as well. Syllabus in lower classes should be such that every student must have studied in detail J. C. Nesfield, Wren and Martin, Roger Fowler, E. E. Speight, T. L. H. Smith Pearse, F. T. Wood, Hugh Jarrett, Randolph Quirk and E. R. Ram Kumar by the time he or she passes the class XII examination..
  4. Web site: The Saracen's Head Library. 19 December 1903. The New York Times. 26 May 2010 . A new library of books for collectors, to be entitled The Saracen's Head Library, is about to be published by Ernest Speight and Reginald Horace Walpole.
  5. News: Notes. 10 February 1904. The Star. 26 May 2010. New Zealand. 4. Mr Ernest Speight and Mr Reginald Horace Walpole of Teignmouth ... are about to commence the publication of finely produced books for collectors, to be entitled 'The Saracen's Head Library'.
  6. https://www.worldcat.org/title/251594943 The Mary Kingsley Travel Books
  7. 17 September 1918. Whitehall, September 14, 1918. The London Gazette. 11090. 19 July 2010. The KING has been pleased to give and grant unto Ernest Edwin Speight, Esq.. Teacher at the Fourth Higher School at Kanazawa, Kaga, Japan, His Majesty's Royal licence and authority to wear the Insignia of the Fifth Class of the Order of the Rising Sun, which Decoration has been conferred upon him by His Majesty the Emperor of Japan in recognition of valuable services rendered by him..
  8. Web site: Marmaduke Pickthall, a brief biography . 26 May 2010 . British Muslim Heritage – Mas'ud Ahmed Khan.
  9. Web site: Foundation Corporate Meizi Isao Satoshi Memorial Society Bulletin Table of Contents Article 1 Volume (Taisyou 3 Year) – Article 20 Volume (Taisyou 12 Year). Google Translation of citation. Meiji Seitoku Kinen Gakkai (Meiji Japan Society). 9 January 2011.
  10. Web site: The story of my heart. Webcat Plus. ja. 10 January 2011. by Richard Jefferies; with introduction & notes by E.E. Speight.

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