Terence de Vere White


Terence de Vere White was an Irish lawyer, writer and editor.

Life

Career

Born in Dublin, de Vere White studied at Trinity College, Dublin. He later qualified as a solicitor and became a partner at a leading Dublin law firm. He gave up law when he became the literary editor of Irish Times, a post he held from 1961 to 1977.
Writing in 1968, he harshly criticized both the Constitution of Ireland and the existing political system, "At the time of this writing, the Constitution of the Republic is under scrutiny, but it is unlikely that any proposed changes therein will radically alter the system established. A Constitution on the United States model might well suit the people better than the present one; but the Irish are too innately Conservative ever to bring about such a change except by gradual and almost imperceptible degrees."
He retired from the newspaper in 1977.
He wrote twelve novels, five biographies, two volumes of short stories and five other books of general interest.

Personal life

de Vere White married Mary O'Farrell in 1941 and they had two sons and a daughter. He was also the father of Dervla Murphy's daughter, born in 1968.
At the time of his death, he was married to Victoria Glendinning.

Selected works

The Road of Excess - biography of Isaac ButtKevin O'Higgins The Story of the Royal Dublin Society A Fretful Midge - memoirsAn Affair With the Moon - novelPrenez Garde - novelThe Remainder Man - novelLucifer Falling - novelTara - novelThe Parents of Oscar Wilde: Sir William and Lady Wilde Leinster Ireland - "New Nations & Peoples" seriesThe Lambert Mile - novelThe Lambert Revels - novelThe March Hare - novelThe Minister for Justice - novelMr. Stephen - novelThe Anglo-Irish After Sunset - playThe Distance and the Dark - novelThe Radish Memoirs - novelThe Real Charlotte - playChimes at Midnight and Other Stories - fictionTom Moore: The Irish Poet My Name is Norval - novelBirds of Prey: Stories - fictionJohnnie Cross - novel about George EliotChat Show - novel