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Reginald Arkell
Reginald Arkell
Reginald Arkell
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Reginald Arkell (14 October 1881 – 1 May 1959[1]) was a British script writer and comic novelist who wrote many musical plays for the London theatre. The most popular of those was an adaptation of the spoof history book 1066 and All That: 1066—and all that: A Musical Comedy based on that Memorable History by Sellar and Yeatman. He was the author of A Cottage in the Country and the Green Fingers series of garden verse.

Key Information

Arkell was born on 14 October 1881 at Lechlade, Gloucestershire, England, was educated at Burford Grammar School and trained as a journalist. He married actress Elizabeth Evans in 1912. During the First World War he served with the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry and The Norfolk Regiment. He also scripted a propaganda comic book, Bosch the soldier, illustrated by Alfred Leete.[2] Arkell died on 1 May 1959 at Cricklade, England.[1]

Works

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  • The Round House (1958, novel)
  • Charley Moon (1953, novel, published by Michael Joseph Ltd)
  • "Trumpets Over Merriford" (1955, American title: The Miracle Of Merriford, 1956, novel)
  • Collected Green Fingers (1956, poems)
  • Come to the ball; or, Harlequin (1951, adaptation of Johann Strauss II's Die Fledermaus)
  • Old Herbaceous (1950, republished 2002)
  • Green fingers Again (1942, poems)
  • War Rumours (1939, verse, illustrated by Edgar Norfield)
  • Percy Ponsonby (1939, TV series)
  • 1066 And All That (1939, TV version)
  • The Street Singer or Interval for Romance (1937, film musical which starred Arthur Tracy)
  • Smash and Grab (1937, film)
  • Green fingers, and other poems (1934, includes Roses at Owlpen)
  • The Last Waltz (1936, film of the musical comedy)
  • 1066 And All That (1935, revue)
  • A Kingdom for a Cow (1935, adaptation of Kurt Weill's operetta Der Kuhhandel)
  • Playing the Games (1935, humour)
  • Bridge Without Sighs (1934, A Harmless Handbook to the game, written in rhyme)
  • Richard Jefferies (1933, biography)
  • Winter Sportings (1929)
  • Meet These People (1928, poetry with caricatures by Bert Thomas, published by Herbert Jenkins)
  • Columbine – A Fantasy of Summertime (1928, adaptation for radio)
  • The Blue Train (1927, musical, music by Robert Stolz, additional lyrics by Ivy St. Helier)
  • Frasquita (1925, operetta, music by Franz Lehár)
  • Our Nell (1924, musical play, music by Ivor Novello and Harold Fraser-Simson)
  • The tragedy of Mr. Punch (1923, play)
  • Columbine (1922, play)
  • Catherine (1922, musical play, music by Tchaikovsky)
  • The Last Waltz (1922, musical comedy, music by Oscar Straus)
  • All the Rumors (1916, contains the poem Actual Evidence I Have None ..., published by Duckworth & Company, 1916
  • World War, 1914-1918 (47 pp.)
  • Colombine: A Fantasy : and Other Verse, 1912
  • "The Holidays" (Children's poem in The Captain, December 1910)

Old Herbaceous

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Old Herbaceous is a classic British novel of the garden, with a title character as outsized and unforgettable as P. G. Wodehouse’s immortal manservant, Jeeves. Born at the dusk of the Victorian era, Bert Pinnegar, an awkward orphan child with one leg a tad longer than the other, rises from inauspicious schoolboy days spent picking wildflowers and dodging angry farmers to become the legendary head gardener "Old Herbaceous," the most esteemed flower-show judge in the county and a famed horticultural wizard capable of producing dazzling April strawberries from the greenhouse and the exact morning glories his Lady spies on the French Riviera, "so blue, so blue it positively hurts."

Sprinkled with nuggets of gardening wisdom, Old Herbaceous is a witty comic portrait of the most archetypal—and crotchety—head gardener ever to plant a row of bulbs at a British country house.

References

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Reginald Arkell

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Reginald Arkell was an English novelist, playwright, poet, and scriptwriter known for his humorous works celebrating rural life, gardening, and English countryside traditions. Born on 14 October 1882 in Lechlade, Gloucestershire , he trained as a journalist and began his career contributing articles, stories, and poems to magazines before serving in the First World War with the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry and the Norfolk Regiment . After the war, he turned to writing for the London theatre, creating librettos and scripts for numerous musical comedies and plays, including successful adaptations such as 1066 And All That . Arkell's most enduring contributions came through his light-hearted novels and poetry, particularly his garden-themed verse collections beginning with Green Fingers (1934) and its sequels, which captured the joys and foibles of gardening with wit and charm . His 1950 novel Old Herbaceous, a gentle comedy about a lifelong head gardener reflecting on changes in English country estates across the 20th century, remains his best-known work and has been widely praised for blending humor, nostalgia, and horticultural wisdom . He also wrote other novels such as Charley Moon and The Miracle of Merriford, and continued scripting for radio, television, and film until his death on 1 May 1959 in Cricklade .

Early Life and Education

Birth and Family Background

Reginald Arkell was born on 14 October 1882 in Lechlade, Gloucestershire, England. This birthplace in southern Gloucestershire was confirmed in contemporary reports, including his obituary in The New York Times, which noted his origins in Lechlade without specifying the year but recorded his age at death as 76, consistent with an 1882 birth. He was the son of a farmer, reflecting a rural family background in the agricultural setting of the region.

Education and Entry into Journalism

Reginald Arkell was educated at Burford Grammar School in Oxfordshire. Following his time at school, he trained as a journalist, marking his entry into the profession. This training served as the foundation for his early career steps in journalism, before he later transitioned to full-time writing. No specific timeline for his schooling or journalism training is detailed in available sources, nor are any formal qualifications beyond the school and training noted.

Literary Career

Early Publications and Wartime Writing

Reginald Arkell's early literary career featured light verse and illustrated humorous publications, beginning with poetry before shifting toward wartime satire. His first book, the poetry collection Colombine, appeared in 1912. He followed this with A Children's Painting Book in 1914, continuing his output in accessible, illustrated verse. During the First World War, Arkell contributed to patriotic and satirical literature through humorous works targeting the conflict and the enemy. In 1916, he published All the Rumours, a collection of verses rhymed by Arkell and pictured by illustrator Alfred Leete, which offered English wit and pictorial humor on World War I topics. The book presented amusing short poems addressing war-related rumors and topical events. That same year, Arkell scripted the propaganda comic Bosch the Soldier (also known as The Bosch Book), again with illustrations by Leete, satirizing German soldiers in support of the British war effort. These wartime publications exemplified the era's blend of humor and propaganda in popular print media.

Poetry Collections

Reginald Arkell is best remembered for his light-hearted poetry collections centered on gardening themes, which combined gentle humor with affectionate observations of garden life and the eccentricities of gardeners. His witty verse captured the frustrations and delights of horticulture in a style that appealed widely to amateur gardeners and general readers alike. Arkell's most notable contribution to poetry is the "Green Fingers" series, beginning with Green Fingers: A Present for a Good Gardener, first published in 1934 as an illustrated collection of charming, humorous poems celebrating the joys and challenges of gardening. This work established his reputation for whimsical garden verse, often presented as an ideal gift for gardening enthusiasts. Subsequent volumes expanded the series, including Green Fingers Again, and the poems were later gathered together in Collected Green Fingers in 1956, a compilation described as a charming anthology of poetry surrounding the subjects of gardening and nature. These collections showcase Arkell's distinctive light verse style, which pokes gentle fun at gardeners' habits and passions while maintaining a warm, affectionate tone. Arkell's successful gardening poetry laid the groundwork for his later comic and gardening-themed novels.

Comic and Gardening-Themed Novels

Arkell's comic and gardening-themed novels highlight his skill in blending gentle humour with warm, nostalgic depictions of rural English life and horticulture. His best-known work in this vein is Old Herbaceous (1950), a novel that follows the life and memories of Bert Pinnegar, a lifelong head gardener at a grand country estate, from his orphaned childhood to his retirement as a legendary figure known as "Old Herbaceous." The narrative is presented as the gardener's own reflections, filled with witty observations on evolving gardening fashions, the eccentricities of employers, and the enduring rhythms of country life, offering a comic yet affectionate portrait of a crotchety but devoted character. Widely regarded as a classic of British gardening literature, the book achieved large sales in the UK and US, solidifying Arkell's reputation for this distinctive style. An earlier example is A Cottage in the Country (1934), a light-hearted novel that draws on similar themes of rural charm and comic situations arising from country living. These prose works share a clear thematic overlap with Arkell's gardening poetry, particularly in their humorous and loving celebration of gardens and the countryside.

Theatre and Musical Works

Musical Comedies and Stage Plays

Reginald Arkell established himself as a prolific writer of musical comedies and stage plays for the London theatre, contributing significantly to British musical theatre during the first half of the 20th century. His work in this field often involved crafting books and lyrics for musical productions, including adaptations of European operettas and original pieces that showcased his characteristic humour. Among his notable contributions was the musical comedy "1066—and all that", adapted from the satirical history book "1066 and All That" by W. C. Sellar and R. J. Yeatman, which was regarded as the most popular of his musical plays for the London theatre. He also worked on a version titled "1066 And All That" in 1935. His other stage works included musicals and plays such as "The Last Waltz" (1922), "Our Nell" (1924), "Frasquita" (1925), "The Blue Train" (1927), and "Come to the ball; or, Harlequin" (1951), many of which featured music by prominent composers of the era. These theatre pieces highlighted Arkell's ability to blend witty scripting with musical entertainment, complementing his broader literary career without direct overlap with his later gardening-themed novels.

Notable Productions and Adaptations

Reginald Arkell's contributions to the London theatre included several musical comedies, with his adaptation of the satirical history book standing out as particularly successful. "1066—and all that: A Musical Comedy", based on the memorable history by W. C. Sellar and R. J. Yeatman, featured music by Alfred Reynolds and book and lyrics by Arkell himself. This work proved to be one of his most popular stage pieces, enjoying multiple productions and revivals in London. The piece was produced in 1935. A tour production was mounted around 1937, as evidenced by surviving promotional posters. The musical comedy was also adapted for television by the BBC in 1939. A notable West End revival ran at the Palace Theatre in 1945. These stagings underscored the work's lasting appeal as a humorous take on English history.

Film and Screenwriting Contributions

Credits and Involvement in Film

Reginald Arkell had limited involvement in film, primarily as a writer during the 1930s. He received writing credit for the musical film The Last Waltz (1936), where he is listed alongside Paul Schiller. The film, an English-language production with a French version titled La dernière valse (1936) for which he also received scenario credit, represented his contributions to screenwriting in the musical genre. Arkell similarly earned a writer credit for The Street Singer (1936), directed by Jean de Marguenat and starring Arthur Tracy, with additional writing from de Marguenat and Paul Schiller. This musical film marked another instance of his screenplay work in British cinema of the era. No other feature film writing credits are recorded for Arkell beyond these two productions. His film work remained secondary to his extensive output in literature and theatre.

Personal Life

Marriage and Family

Reginald Arkell married the actress Elizabeth Evans in 1912. She was known professionally as Elizabeth Arkell following their marriage. The couple had at least one son. Their union lasted for the remainder of Arkell's life. In his later years, the couple resided in Wiltshire.

Later Years and Death

In his later years, Reginald Arkell retired from the Newnes publishing firm in 1954 but continued to write and made occasional television appearances as a commentator on light subjects. He resided in Cricklade, Wiltshire, England, where he died on 1 May 1959 at the age of 76.

Legacy and Recognition

Influence on Gardening Literature and Humour

Arkell earned a reputation as a comic novelist and poet who specialized in gentle humour and gardening themes, blending affectionate portrayals of rural life with light-hearted observations on the joys and challenges of gardening. His poetry and prose celebrate the simple pleasures of the English countryside and the eccentricities of human nature, often through a lens of mild, endearing comedy that makes gardening appear both relatable and entertaining. His novel Old Herbaceous exemplifies this approach, presenting the life of a gardener with affectionate humour while detailing everyday gardening tasks and rural customs in a charming, nostalgic manner. Similarly, Green Fingers, a collection of garden-themed poems, features delightfully humorous verses that capture the whimsy and foibles associated with cultivating plants. These works have contributed to the tradition of humorous gardening literature by offering an accessible, entertaining perspective that elevates the subject beyond mere instruction to one of literary amusement. Old Herbaceous, in particular, achieved lasting appeal in both the UK and US, where it has been valued as a classic example of gentle, character-driven humour centred on gardening. Arkell's style has influenced the genre by demonstrating how wit and warmth can enrich gardening narratives, encouraging later writers to explore similar comedic tones in their depictions of horticultural life.

Posthumous Adaptations and Reception

Reginald Arkell's best-known novel Old Herbaceous has maintained a steady readership since his death in 1959, evidenced by its republication in editions including the Modern Library Gardening series in 2003, which marked its return to print after an absence of fifty years. The book is regarded as a classic British gardening novel, celebrated for its nostalgic portrayal of a lifelong gardener's reminiscences. The novel was adapted into a stage play by Alfred Shaughnessy, with its first production occurring at Salisbury Playhouse in 1979, where Roger Hume starred in the central role of Herbert Pinnegar. Hume continued performing the piece in London and on tours to Australia, Zimbabwe, and the United States, while also recording versions for television and radio. A notable radio adaptation aired on BBC Radio 4 in April 1981, directed by Roger Pine at BBC Birmingham, with Hume again portraying the retired gardener in a monologue format; it received a repeat broadcast later that year. In more recent years, actor Peter Macqueen has toured a one-man version of the Shaughnessy adaptation, beginning around 2013 with a run at Theatre by the Lake in Keswick and continuing with performances in rural village halls and venues across the UK into the 2020s. The production has drawn praise for its gentle humour and pathos, often described as "Downton Abbey with gardening tips" and appreciated for its charming, witty, and touching depiction of rural life and horticulture. These adaptations reflect the enduring appeal of Arkell's affectionate portrayal of English country gardening in the decades following his passing.

References

  1. https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/430374.Reginald_Arkell
  2. https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/mastertalent/detail/116505/Arkell_Reginald
  3. https://www.poeticous.com/reginald-arkell
  4. https://mypoeticside.com/poets/reginald-arkell-poems
  5. https://thegardenhistory.blog/2025/08/09/reginald-arkell-and-old-herbaceous/
  6. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0035043/
  7. https://ehive.com/collections/203002/objects/1898978/reginald-arkell-14-october-1882-1-may-1959
  8. https://www.nytimes.com/1959/05/02/archives/reginald-arkell-author-76-dead-english-writer-best-known-fornovel.html
  9. https://books.google.com/books/about/Old_Herbaceous.html?id=zIfjDAAAQBAJ
  10. http://www.authorandbookinfo.com/ngcoba/ar.htm
  11. https://library.si.edu/digital-library/book/allrumours00arke
  12. https://archive.org/details/allrumours00arke
  13. https://reader.exacteditions.com/issues/131467/page/26
  14. https://www.abebooks.com/Bosch-Book-Leete-Alfred/31879169219/bd
  15. https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/14476800-green-fingers---a-present-for-a-good-gardener
  16. https://www.ebay.com/itm/276225312841
  17. https://www.rookebooks.com/1956-collected-green-fingers-a-present-for-a-good-gardener-reginald-arkell-1sted
  18. https://warblerpress.com/old-herbaceous/
  19. https://www.amazon.com/Old-Herbaceous-Garden-Library-Gardening/dp/0812967380
  20. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/933525.Old_Herbaceous
  21. https://www.abebooks.com/first-edition/cottage-country-Reginald-Arkell-1882-1959-London/32022871695/bd
  22. https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1161528/1066-and-all-that-poster-echo-press/
  23. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0029615/
  24. https://sourcewolf.com/creator/reginald-arkell/
  25. https://allpoetry.com/Reginald-Arkell
  26. https://countryhouselibrary.co.uk/blogs/must-reads-by-genre/flower-show-create-your-own-enviable-work-of-art-in-your-garden
  27. https://leavesandpages.com/2018/01/05/old-herbaceous-by-reginald-arkell/
  28. https://gutenberg.ca/ebooks/arkellr-oldherbaceous/arkellr-oldherbaceous-01-h-dir/arkellr-oldherbaceous-01-h.html
  29. https://pacifichorticulture.org/articles/marcias-garden-a-conversation/
  30. https://www.pmacproductions.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/old-herbaceous-programme.pdf
  31. https://suttonelms.org.uk/r4-plays-1981.html
  32. https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2014/jun/24/old-herbaceous-one-man-play-peter-macqueen
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