Stephen Spender.

Stephen Harold Spender

Born 28 Feb 1909 London, United Kingdom

Died 16 Jul 1995 London, United Kingdom

Citizenship United Kingdom

Would Be 117 yr If Living

7 min read

Reading time

1,346

Words

Apr 2, 2026

Published

Books

Awards

TL;DR

Stephen Spender received the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry and was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire. He wrote the screenplay for the film The Fool and the Princess 1949 and contributed to television productions such as BBC Play of the Month 1965. He married Natasha Spender and had two children, including actress Elizabeth Spender.

Identity & family.

KIN · 9

Names, aliases, and relatives of Stephen Spender — birth name, kin, and personal ties.

Birth Name Stephen Harold Spender

Aliases Sir Stephen Spender, Steven Spender

Parents: Violet Hilda Schuster Harold Spender
Spouses: Natasha Spender Inez Pearn
Children: Matthew Spender Elizabeth Spender
Siblings: Humphrey Spender Michael Spender Christine Spender

At a glance.

STATS

Stephen Spender by the numbers — life, work, and family.

86 Years lived

20 Books

6 Awards

2 Marriages

2 Children

Who was Stephen Spender?

BIOGRAPHY

Stephen Spender — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.

Early life

Stephen Spender was born on 28 February 1909 in London, England, the son of Harold Spender and Violet Hilda Schuster. He grew up with three siblings, including the photographer Humphrey Spender and explorer Michael Spender.

He was educated at several schools, including Gresham’s School, Blundell’s School, and University College, Oxford, where he developed his literary voice.

Career

Stephen Spender’s literary career spanned poetry, novels, and essays. He wrote the screenplay for the film The Fool and the Princess in 1949, and contributed to television productions such as BBC Play of the Month 1965 and Spoleto 1967 1967.

He received the King’s or Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry, was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire, and was knighted as a Knight Bachelor.

Personal life

Stephen Spender was first married to Inez Pearn from 1936 until their divorce in 1939. In 1941, he married Natasha Spender, with whom he remained until his death in 1995. He had two children: sculptor Matthew Spender and actress Elizabeth Spender.

He was also brother to photographer Humphrey Spender, explorer Michael Spender, and Christine Spender.

Legacy

Knighthood as a Knight Bachelor and the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry secured Stephen Spender’s place in English literature. He was also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and a Companion of Literature.

His film and television work, including The Fool and the Princess, and his poetry remain part of the English literary canon.

Awards & honors.

AWARDS · 6

Every award, honor, and recognition received by Stephen Spender — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.

Commander of the Order of the British Empire
King’s / Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry
Knight Bachelor
Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature
Companion of Literature
honorary doctorate of the University of Montpellier

Bibliography.

BOOKS · 20

Stephen Spender's bibliography — every authored, edited, and co-written book, ranked by edition count.

Amazon

Poems

by Stephen Spender
Amazon

World Within World

by Stephen Spender
Amazon

The Temple

by Stephen Spender
Amazon

The Destructive Element

by Stephen Spender
Amazon

The Burning Cactus

by Stephen Spender
Amazon

Life and the Poet

by Stephen Spender
Amazon

The Creative Element

by Stephen Spender
Amazon

The Generous Days

by Stephen Spender
Amazon

European Witness

by Stephen Spender
Amazon

Dolphins

by Stephen Spender
Amazon

China Diary

by Stephen Spender
Amazon

The Oedipus Trilogy

by Stephen Spender
Amazon

The Year of the Young Rebels

by Stephen Spender
Amazon

Henry Moore Sculptures in Landscape

by Stephen Spender

Showing 14 of 20 View all 20 books

Did you know?

FACTS · 1

Little-known facts about Stephen Spender — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.

Stephen Spender was a poet, novelist, and essayist. He was the father of sculptor Matthew Spender and actress Elizabeth Spender.

You wanted to know.

FAQ · 35

Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Stephen Spender.

When was Stephen Spender born?

Stephen Spender was born on February 28, 1909. He was born in London, England, United Kingdom.
Where was Stephen Spender born?

Stephen Spender was born in London, England, United Kingdom, on February 28, 1909. He was the son of Harold Spender and Violet Hilda Schuster.
When did Stephen Spender die?

Stephen Spender died on July 16, 1995, in London, England, United Kingdom. He was 86 years old at the time of his death.
How old was Stephen Spender when he died?

Stephen Spender was 86 years old when he died on July 16, 1995. He had been born on February 28, 1909, in London.
Where did Stephen Spender die?

Stephen Spender died in London, England, United Kingdom, on July 16, 1995. He had lived and worked in London for most of his life.
What was Stephen Spender's full birth name?

Stephen Spender’s full name at birth was Stephen Harold Spender. He was sometimes known as Sir Stephen Spender after being knighted.
What was Stephen Spender's occupation?

Stephen Spender was a writer, known for his poetry, novels, and essays. He also worked on film and television projects, including The Fool and the Princess 1949.
What was Stephen Spender's nationality?

Stephen Spender was a citizen of the United Kingdom. He was born and died in London, England.
Who were Stephen Spender's parents?

Stephen Spender’s parents were Harold Spender and Violet Hilda Schuster. He had three siblings: Humphrey, Michael, and Christine.
Who was Stephen Spender married to?

Stephen Spender was married twice. He married Inez Pearn in 1936, but they divorced in 1939. He then married Natasha Spender in 1941 and remained with her until his death in 1995.
Did Stephen Spender have children?

Yes, Stephen Spender had two children. He had a son, Matthew Spender, who became a sculptor, and a daughter, Elizabeth Spender, who became an actress.
Did Stephen Spender have siblings?

Yes, Stephen Spender had three siblings. He had brothers Humphrey and Michael, and a sister Christine. Humphrey Spender was a well-known photographer.
Where did Stephen Spender study?

Stephen Spender was educated at several institutions, including Gresham’s School, Blundell’s School, and University College, Oxford. He also studied at the Hall School, University College School, and the Lycée Georges-Clemenceau in France.
What awards did Stephen Spender receive?

Stephen Spender received many honors, including the Commander of the Order of the British Empire, the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry, and a knighthood as Knight Bachelor. He was also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and a Companion of Literature, and received an honorary doctorate from the University of Montpellier.
How many major awards did Stephen Spender win?

Stephen Spender received at least six major awards and honors, including the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry and the Knight Bachelor. He was also honored by the Royal Society of Literature and the University of Montpellier.
How tall was Stephen Spender?

Stephen Spender was 6 feet 3 inches 1.91 meters tall. His height was notable among his literary peers.
What other names did Stephen Spender use?

Stephen Spender was also known as Sir Stephen Spender after being knighted, and occasionally as Steven Spender. His full birth name was Stephen Harold Spender.
What was Stephen Spender known for?

Stephen Spender was known for his work as a writer on film and television, including The Fool and the Princess 1949, BBC Play of the Month 1965, and Spoleto 1967 1967. He was also a celebrated poet and novelist.
What was Stephen Spender's most notable film work?

Stephen Spender’s most notable film work was The Fool and the Princess in 1949. It is one of his key screenwriting credits.
What TV series did Stephen Spender write for?

Stephen Spender wrote for the television series BBC Play of the Month in 1965. This was part of his television work.
What was the significance of Spoleto 1967?

Spoleto 1967 was a film project that Stephen Spender contributed to in 1967. It is one of his known screen credits.
Who was Stephen Spender's first wife?

Stephen Spender’s first wife was Inez Pearn, whom he married in 1936 and divorced in 1939. Their marriage lasted three years.
Who was Stephen Spender's second wife?

Stephen Spender’s second wife was Natasha Spender, whom he married in 1941 and remained married to until his death in 1995. She was a pianist and writer.
What did Stephen Spender's children do professionally?

Stephen Spender’s son, Matthew Spender, became a sculptor. His daughter, Elizabeth Spender, became an actress.
What did Stephen Spender's brother Humphrey do?

Stephen Spender’s brother, Humphrey Spender, was a well-known photographer. He was part of the Mass Observation project.
What type of writer was Stephen Spender?

Stephen Spender was a poet, novelist, and essayist. He was a significant figure in 20th-century English literature.
Did Stephen Spender receive a knighthood?

Yes, Stephen Spender was knighted as a Knight Bachelor, one of his many honors. He was thereafter known as Sir Stephen Spender.
What honor did Stephen Spender receive from the Queen?

Stephen Spender was awarded the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry, a prestigious honor from the British monarch. He also received the King’s Gold Medal earlier.
What was Stephen Spender's connection to the University of Montpellier?

Stephen Spender received an honorary doctorate from the University of Montpellier. This was in recognition of his literary achievements.
What was Stephen Spender's educational background?

Stephen Spender attended several schools, including Gresham’s School, Blundell’s School, and University College, Oxford. He also studied at the Hall School and University College School.
What was Stephen Spender's full name?

Stephen Spender’s full name was Stephen Harold Spender. He was also known as Sir Stephen Spender after his knighthood.
How many awards did Stephen Spender receive?

Stephen Spender received at least six major awards, including the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry and a knighthood. He also held fellowships and an honorary doctorate.
What was Stephen Spender's height in feet and inches?

Stephen Spender was 6 feet 3 inches tall. He was notably tall for his time.
What schools did Stephen Spender attend as a child?

Stephen Spender attended Hall School, Blundell’s School, Gresham’s School, and University College School. He later studied at Oxford.
What university did Stephen Spender attend?

Stephen Spender attended University College, Oxford. He studied there before embarking on his literary career.

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Audited & updated by

Olivia has 6 years of experience writing biographical profiles and still approaches every subject like it's the first one. She covers everyone from debut musicians to Hall of Fame athletes to novelists most people have never heard of. She finds something worth reading in all of them. Her drafts tend to come in already clean, which her editor appreciates. She says good writing is just good thinking written down. Hard to argue with that.

Published on April 2, 2026

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