Walter Greenwood

Walter Greenwood (17 December 1903 – 13 September 1974) was an English novelist, best known for the socially influential novel Love on the Dole (1933).

Greenwood was born in Hanky Park, in Pendleton, Salford, Lancashire, the son of radical working class parents. His father died when he was nine, and his mother supported him by working as a waitress. Like many children he left school at the age of 13 to work (as a pawnbroker's clerk). He took a succession of low paid jobs, and continued to educate himself in Salford Public Library. During periods of unemployment he worked for the local Labour Party and began to write short stories.

While unemployed, he wrote his first novel, Love on the Dole, in 1932. It was about the destructive social effects of poverty in his home town. After several rejections, it was published in 1933. It was a critical and commercial success, and a huge influence on the British public's view of unemployment. It even prompted parliament to investigate, leading to reforms. The popularity of the novel, which was adapted as a play that had successful runs in both Britain and the United States, meant Greenwood would not have to worry about employment again.

The script for the 1935 Sydney Howard comedy, Where’s George? was written by Greenwood although it had none of the social commentary of his other work.

Greenwood was engaged to a local Salford girl Alice and stayed in Salford for a while, where he served on the city council, but soon moved to London. He abandoned his fiancée who sued him successfully for breach of promise. In 1937 he married Pearl Alice Osgood, an American actress and dancer.

Although he never matched the success of Love on the Dole, he produced a succession of novels during the 1930s: His Worship the Major (1934), The Time is Ripe (1935), Standing Room Only, or 'A Laugh in Every Line' (1936), Cleft Stick (1937), Only Mugs Work (1938), The Secret Kingdom (1938) and How the Other Man Lives (1939). He also co-wrote a George Formby film, No Limit (1935).

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