Van Druten, << van DROOT uhn, >> John William (1901-1957), was a playwright who became known for his polished comedies. His plays are noted for their sophisticated dialogue and strong portrayals of women. Van Druten’s comedies include Old Acquaintance (1940), The Voice of the Turtle (1943), I Remember Mama (1944), and Bell, Book and Candle (1950). He adapted his best-known serious play, I Am a Camera (1951), from Christopher Isherwood’s stories, Goodbye to Berlin, about life in Germany as the Nazis were coming to power.
Van Druten was born on June 1, 1901, in London and taught at University College, Wales. He turned to literature as a career after Young Woodley (1925), his second play, succeeded in New York City. The play had been banned in England as an exposé of its public school system. He moved to the United States in 1926. He died on Dec. 19, 1957.
