Powys, John Cowper

John Cowper Powys was a novelist, essayist, philosopher, poet and lecturer born in Shirley, Derbyshire as the son of the Reverend Charles Francis Powys. His mother, Mary Cowper Johnson, was descended from the 18th century poet William Cowper. Several of Powys's ten brothers and sisters were artistic. Two of his younger brothers, Llewelyn and Theodore Francis, became published authors, his sister Philippa published a novel and several poetry collections and Albert Reginald became an architect working with the protection of ancient buildings.