| Admin/Biog History | Theodore Philip Toynbee (25 June 1916 15 June 1981) was a British writer and communist. He wrote experimental novels, and distinctive verse novels, one of which was an epic called Pantaloon, a work in several volumes, only some of which are published. He also wrote memoirs of the 1930s, and reviews and literary criticism, the latter mainly via his employment with The Observer newspaper.
Toynbee and Nicolson first met through mutual friends in the late 1930s. The two gradually became close, regularly socialising and frequenting, amongst others, the Gargoyle and Wednesday clubs. Very soon, Toynbee & Nicolson considered each other 'best friends'.
In 1939, Toynbee married Anne Powell, daughter of Lt-Col George Powell. The Toynbee's led a Bohemian life in Fitzrovia with Philip drinking heavily. In 1945 they moved to the Isle of Wight, for a fresh start. They had two children, the second being Mary Louisa, better known as the journalist Polly Toynbee. Nicolson was a regular visitor to their house and supported the couple throughout the breakdown of their marriage, and Anne's subsequent marriage to Richard Wollheim who was also a friend.
In 1950, Toynbee took up post as foreign correspondent with The Observer. He travelled to Tel Aviv, where he met Sally Smith who was a secretary for the American Embassy there. Toynbee & Smith were married in late 1950. They returned to England and had three children. Nicolson was a frequent visitor to their various houses and regularly holidayed with the family.
In the early to mid-1970s, Toynbee underwent a personal crisis, slowly entering into a period of deep depression. He had become increasingly concerned about ecological matters and this, along with his own ideological temperament, led him to the controversial decision to set up a self-sufficient farming community, which quickly became a commune when Toynbee, Sally and their youngest daughter moved out into a large cottage nearby.
Toynbee's depression was sometimes immobilising, preventing him from working and enjoying day-to-day life. Against the advice of his general practitioner and consultant he received electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in 1977.
Toynbee and Nicolson, despite various disagreements and short-lived fallings out, remained best friends until Nicolson's death in 1978. Toynbee died at his home surrounded by family in 1981.
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