Jeffrey Bernard was a famous British journalist. He was known for his feckless and chaotic career. He was also known for living a life of alcohol abuse. He was immortalized in a play Jeffrey Bernard is Unwell by Keith Waterhouse.
Early life of Jeffrey Bernard
Jeffrey Bernard was born in London on 27th May in the year 1932. he was the son of Oliver Percy Bernard and Dora Hodges who was an opera singer. Jeffrey Bernard was the brother of Oliver Bernard who was a poet. Famous art critic and photographer Bruce Bonus Bernard was also the brother of Jeffrey Bernard. His parents gave him the name Jerry but he at a very early age changed his name to Jeffery. He studied in Pangbourne Naval College for two years.
School days of Jeffrey Bernard
At the time he was in school, Jeffrey Bernard begun to explore Soho and Fitzrovia with his brother Bruce. He was lured by the lurid and spurious glamour of the area. He took a number of menial jobs in that area. However, he still managed to build a circle encompassing Francis Bacon, Dylan Thomas, Nina Hamnett, Daniel Farson, John Minton, and the life of Bohemian London. Elizabeth Smart suggested him that he should try journalism. Following this suggestion he started to write about his interest in horse racing in Queen Magazine.
Jeffrey Bernard as a journalist
His reputation as a journalist grew and in the year 1973 he started writing a weekly column for the New Statesman. Later in the year 1975 The Spectator poached him. Jeffrey Bernard had a chaotic lifestyle and a life of alcoholism. This took the toll on his health as well as on his reliability. Due to this he often fell ill and the magazine authority often posted notice Jeffrey Bernard is unwell in place of his column.
Alcoholism and Jeffrey Bernard
Though married four times, Jeffrey Bernard often remarked that alcohol was the other woman in his life. He was several times hospitalized for detoxification. He also suffered from pancreatitis and diabetes. Ultimately his right leg had to be amputated. He died at his home in Soho due to renal failure on 4h September in the year 1997.
Jeffrey Bernard is one of the most eminent names in the sphere of journalism in America. His column was very much popular in America too. his alcoholism and chaotic career also made him famous.
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