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| Elaine Morgan obituary | |
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| Elaine Morgan, who has died aged 92, was a delightfully controversial advocate of the aquatic ape theory of human evolution. When she produced Descent of Woman (1972) – the first of her several books on the topic – she had already established her reputation as a screenwriter for the BBC. Reviews of her bestseller dubbed it a lively "women's lib prehistory" and claimed that, given her evidence, "even the most militant male chauvinist will find it difficult to cling to all his prior convictions". | Elaine Morgan, who has died aged 92, was a delightfully controversial advocate of the aquatic ape theory of human evolution. When she produced Descent of Woman (1972) – the first of her several books on the topic – she had already established her reputation as a screenwriter for the BBC. Reviews of her bestseller dubbed it a lively "women's lib prehistory" and claimed that, given her evidence, "even the most militant male chauvinist will find it difficult to cling to all his prior convictions". |
| Morgan had turned to non-fiction out of frustration with the "man the hunter" theories of human evolution that dominated scholarly and popular thinking in the 1960s. After reading books such as Robert Ardrey's Territorial Imperative (1966), Morgan decided to take matters into her own hands. She found her inspiration for an answer in a scant two pages of The Naked Ape (1967), where Desmond Morris described Sir Alister Hardy's aquatic ape theory. Hardy speculated that perhaps our pre-human ancestors learned to walk upright and gained the capacity for speech in the relative safety of the water's edge rather than in the harsh heat of the African savanna. Morgan contacted Hardy to ask if he would mind her writing a book that elaborated his idea for a popular audience. Hardy had no objections, and so Morgan began to pen Descent of Woman, a title she hoped would evoke memories of Charles Darwin's Descent of Man, published just over a century earlier. | Morgan had turned to non-fiction out of frustration with the "man the hunter" theories of human evolution that dominated scholarly and popular thinking in the 1960s. After reading books such as Robert Ardrey's Territorial Imperative (1966), Morgan decided to take matters into her own hands. She found her inspiration for an answer in a scant two pages of The Naked Ape (1967), where Desmond Morris described Sir Alister Hardy's aquatic ape theory. Hardy speculated that perhaps our pre-human ancestors learned to walk upright and gained the capacity for speech in the relative safety of the water's edge rather than in the harsh heat of the African savanna. Morgan contacted Hardy to ask if he would mind her writing a book that elaborated his idea for a popular audience. Hardy had no objections, and so Morgan began to pen Descent of Woman, a title she hoped would evoke memories of Charles Darwin's Descent of Man, published just over a century earlier. |
| Morgan's book was chosen as an American Book of the Month Club selection and was reasonably successful. Readers loved the quick wit and easy style with which she skewered male-centred notions of human evolution, yet they remained far more sceptical of her aquatic ape theory. She had written for an audience with little scientific training, and most of the evidence she presented in defence of the idea relied on everyday experience, rather than detailed scientific observation. | Morgan's book was chosen as an American Book of the Month Club selection and was reasonably successful. Readers loved the quick wit and easy style with which she skewered male-centred notions of human evolution, yet they remained far more sceptical of her aquatic ape theory. She had written for an audience with little scientific training, and most of the evidence she presented in defence of the idea relied on everyday experience, rather than detailed scientific observation. |
| After Descent of Woman, she continued her flourishing career as a television screenwriter and seemed content to leave well enough alone. However, an American police officer kept sending her letters, urging her to respond to her critics. He wrote to other scientists, asking them to explain why her ideas could not be right and then forwarded their responses to her. With his urging, she decided to try again. This time, she told herself, "I won't be so flippant, won't be so funny, won't be so feminist." | After Descent of Woman, she continued her flourishing career as a television screenwriter and seemed content to leave well enough alone. However, an American police officer kept sending her letters, urging her to respond to her critics. He wrote to other scientists, asking them to explain why her ideas could not be right and then forwarded their responses to her. With his urging, she decided to try again. This time, she told herself, "I won't be so flippant, won't be so funny, won't be so feminist." |
| The Aquatic Ape (1982) was followed by The Scars of Evolution (1990), Descent of the Child (1995), The Aquatic Ape Hypothesis (1997) and others. Her books and television appearances made Morgan popular with enthusiastic novices. Professional anthropologists, however, continue to view her claims with great scepticism. | The Aquatic Ape (1982) was followed by The Scars of Evolution (1990), Descent of the Child (1995), The Aquatic Ape Hypothesis (1997) and others. Her books and television appearances made Morgan popular with enthusiastic novices. Professional anthropologists, however, continue to view her claims with great scepticism. |
| She was born Elaine Floyd in Hopkinstown, Pontypridd. Her father worked as a coalminer. Her writing served as an important source of opportunity and income throughout her life. As a teenager, she won an exhibition to Lady Margaret Hall at Oxford, where she earned a degree in English in 1942. Upon her return to Wales, she met and married Morien Morgan, a French teacher, in 1945. Settling in Mountain Ash, they raised three sons, Dylan, Gareth and Huw. She lived in their family home in the Welsh valleys for the rest of her life. | She was born Elaine Floyd in Hopkinstown, Pontypridd. Her father worked as a coalminer. Her writing served as an important source of opportunity and income throughout her life. As a teenager, she won an exhibition to Lady Margaret Hall at Oxford, where she earned a degree in English in 1942. Upon her return to Wales, she met and married Morien Morgan, a French teacher, in 1945. Settling in Mountain Ash, they raised three sons, Dylan, Gareth and Huw. She lived in their family home in the Welsh valleys for the rest of her life. |
| Morgan's notable screenwriting credits include scripts for several dramatic adaptations of books, including Richard Llewellyn's 1939 novel How Green Was My Valley (1975), about a Welsh family in a mining community; Vera Brittain's 1933 memoir relating her experiences as a woman after the first world war, Testament of Youth (1979); and a miniseries on the Liberal prime minister from the middle of the first world war, The Life and Times of David Lloyd George (1981). She also wrote the screenplay for a documentary about Joey Deacon, a man with cerebral palsy who in his 30s, together with the help of his friends, created a brief memoir of his life called Tongue-Tied. Morgan won two Bafta awards for her screenwriting, one of them for a five-part series on the life of Marie Curie, as well as two Writers' Guild awards, and – for Joey – a Prix Italia. She was appointed OBE in 2009 for services to literature and to education, and granted the freedom of Rhondda Cynon Taf in 2012. | Morgan's notable screenwriting credits include scripts for several dramatic adaptations of books, including Richard Llewellyn's 1939 novel How Green Was My Valley (1975), about a Welsh family in a mining community; Vera Brittain's 1933 memoir relating her experiences as a woman after the first world war, Testament of Youth (1979); and a miniseries on the Liberal prime minister from the middle of the first world war, The Life and Times of David Lloyd George (1981). She also wrote the screenplay for a documentary about Joey Deacon, a man with cerebral palsy who in his 30s, together with the help of his friends, created a brief memoir of his life called Tongue-Tied. Morgan won two Bafta awards for her screenwriting, one of them for a five-part series on the life of Marie Curie, as well as two Writers' Guild awards, and – for Joey – a Prix Italia. She was appointed OBE in 2009 for services to literature and to education, and granted the freedom of Rhondda Cynon Taf in 2012. |
| Morgan is survived by two sons, Gareth and Huw; Dylan and her husband predeceased her. | Morgan is survived by two sons, Gareth and Huw; Dylan and her husband predeceased her. |
| • Elaine Morgan, writer, born 7 November 1920; died 12 July 2013 | • Elaine Morgan, writer, born 7 November 1920; died 12 July 2013 |