Bryan Edgar Magee is a noted British broadcasting personality, politician, poet, and author, best known as a popularizer of philosophy. Magee's most important influence on society remains his efforts to make philosophy accessible to the layman. His autobiography, Clouds of Glory: A Hoxton Childhood, won the J. R. Ackerley Prize for Autobiography in 2004.
Education
An evacuee during World War II, he was educated at Christ's Hospital school on a London County Council scholarship. During this formative period, he developed a keen interest in socialist politics, while during the school holidays he enjoyed listening to political orators at Speakers' Corner, Hyde Park, London as well as regular visits to the theatre and concerts.
Career
Magee has a particular interest in the life, thought and music of Richard Wagner and has written two notable books on the composer and his world Aspects of Wagner (1968; rev. ed. 1988), and The Tristan Chord: Wagner and Philosophy (2001). He is also an admirer of the philosophy of Karl Popper on whom he has written an introduction (Modern Masters series, 1997).
Magee's novel Facing Death, published in 1977, was originally written under the title Love Story. It is frequently asserted that the 1970 film of the same name is based on Magee's book; but this is incorrect. The film is actually based on a book by Erich Segal.