Denys Val Baker
Denys Val Baker was a notable Welsh author born in 1917, recognized for his contributions to literature and pacifism. As the son of aviation pioneer Valentine Baker, he became a conscientious objector during World War II, dedicating his efforts to pacifist groups and volunteer work in London. In 1942, he married Patricia Mary Johnson and adopted "Val" as his middle name in memory of his father, who tragically died that same year. Following the war, Baker published numerous literary works, including short stories and critiques, while editing the magazine *Opus* and contributing to various other publications. After his first marriage ended in 1948, he moved to Cornwall, where he continued to write prolifically and married Jess Margaret Bryan, with whom he had three children. Baker’s literary output primarily consisted of science fiction, and he published over thirty novels, as well as edited significant anthologies. His work gained recognition through publications in various magazines and broadcasts by the BBC. Denys Val Baker passed away in 1984, leaving behind a legacy of literary and cultural contributions.
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Subject Terms
Denys Val Baker
Writer
- Born: October 24, 1917
- Birthplace: Poppleton, Yorkshire, England
- Died: July 6, 1984
Biography
Denys Val Baker was born of Welsh heritage in 1917 as the son of Valentine Baker, the aerial pioneer. The onset of World War II saw Baker stay out of combat as a conscientious objector. He spent the duration of the war working for pacifist groups in London and doing volunteer work during the bombings. It during this time in one of those pacifist groups that Baker married Patricia Mary Johnson in 1942. The two had a son, Martin. That same year Baker added the name Val as his middle name in honor of his father, who had died in a disastrous flying accident that year. During the early 1940’s, Baker began editing the literary magazine Opus, and worked for brief periods at Voices, Writing Today, Modern Short Stories and International Short Stories.
When his first marriage ended in 1948, Baker moved to a cottage in Cornwall and started publishing more books, beginning with short stories. In 1949, he wed Jess Margaret Bryan and had three children with her, Stephen, Demelza, and Genevieve. However, Baker continued his literary journals and criticism with Cornish Reviews that highlighted some of the best and most profound Cornish writing of the era.
Most of Baker’s writing took the form of science fiction, and he contributed to Argosy, Pick of Today’s Stories, Esquire, Town and Country, Chicago Review, Western Review, Good Housekeeping, Home, Evening News, Evening Standard, and Punch among others, as well as having many of his productions put on by the British Broadcasting Corporation. In all, Denys Baker published more than thirty novels and edited several key anthologies during his career, before dying in 1984 at the age of sixty-six, leaving behind four children and two stepchildren.