Skip to main content

Empson, Hetta (Hester Henrietta), 1915 - 1996

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1916 - 1996
  • Usage: 1915 - 1941

Biography

Hester Henrietta (Hetta) Crouse was born on 18 September 1915 in Kroonstad, a small town in the Orange Free State, South Africa. She studied humanities at Bloemfontein University, then moved to Cape Town to work as an apprentice sculptor. Following a period studying art in Germany, she returned to South Africa to work on a newspaper, and became involved in left-wing politics. A further trip to Europe followed, during which Hetta settled in London, eventually joining the BBC where she met William Empson who she married in 1941. While in China with Empson and her two young sons, Hetta worked as a journalist for The Observer and as an artist and sculptor. On their return to England, Empson moved to Sheffield while Hetta continued to live in London and at Shotley in Suffolk, where family friends included a wide range of artistic and literary figures. She died on 22 December 1996.

Found in 1 Collection or Record:

Empson Documents

 Fonds
Reference code: 292
Scope and Contents Material relating to Sir William Empson (1906-1984), poet, academic and critic and his wife, Hetta, Lady Empson (1915-1996), sculptor, political activist and socialite. The first part of the collection comprises papers (mainly letters) from William and Hetta Empson, to each other and to others, notably Walter Brown and David Jones. They include both domestic matters and also descriptions of world events such as their experiences in China during the Communist Revolution, and Hetta´s work in...
Dates: 1915 - 2000
Found in: Special Collections and Archives

Public only; | Accessibility statement | v3.5.0