Vivien Noakes

Who was Vivien Noakes?

Vivien Noakes was a British biographer, editor and critic. She was a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.

She was born Vivien Mary Langley, daughter of noted aeronautical engineer Marcus Langley and educated at Dunottar School, but left with A-levels. It was not until later in life that she took her degree at Manchester College, Oxford, and Somerville College, Oxford, where she was subsequently lecturer.

She lectured at Harvard University and at the Yale Center for British Art. She was an expert on Edward Lear and on the literature of World War I.