Mr. Alan Wood [1957]

THIS OBITUARY NOTICE for Russell’s first biographer, Alan Wood (1914-1957), appeared in The Times, 5 Nov. 1957, p. 13 (B&R C57.27). It had been “written from the heart”, Russell told Wood’s widow, Mary, two days later. Having received a copy from Russell in advance of publication, she thought that he “could not have written anything kinder or more suitable…” (4 Nov. 1957). In the course of many encounters as Bertrand Russell, the Passionate Sceptic (Wood 1957) was taking shape, Russell had grown “very fond” of the couple and “had come to depend upon their knowledge of everything to do with me and their sympathetic understanding…” (1969, 101). Indeed, the Woods had performed some invaluable organizational duties in connection with the press conference at which the RussellEinstein manifesto was unveiled in July 1955 (see Papers 28:31112). In addition to his recently published biography of Russell, Wood had commenced a more technical study of his subject’s philosophical work. The introductory sections of this projected volume were published posthumously in Russell’s My Philosophical Development (1959a, 255-77).