S. H. Burton

Samuel Holroyd "Tim" Burton (30 November 1919 – 6 December 2005) was a British school teacher, college lecturer and prolific author of English language textbooks and books about the west of England. He also produced fiction, assembled anthologies and wrote a biography of William Shakespeare.

He was a lifelong socialist, supporter of the Labour Party, and an anti-nuclear campaigner who set up a branch of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. He was chairman of the Exmoor Society and campaigned for the preservation of its open spaces.

Early life and family Samuel Burton, known as Tim, was born on 30 November 1919 at Caverswall, Staffordshire, England. His father had various occupations and his mother was a village schoolteacher.

When not teaching he produced a large number of English language textbooks, as well as anthologies, biography, fiction, edited editions of classic works and books on Devon and Cornwall. He compiled anthologies of science fiction that he used for teaching purposes and thought effective because so many pupils already read the genre. His first published book was The Criticism of Poetry (1950) which remained in print for nearly four decades. but the poor sales were a great disappointment to the author. Also in 1972, he produced The West Country in Robert Hale's The Regions of Britain series.

Other activities Burton was a socialist, a supporter of the Labour Party, and an anti-nuclear campaigner who in the 1960s set up a branch of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament in Tiverton.

Death Burton died in Stafford on 6 December 2005.

Selected publications Burton's publications include:

Anthologies and fiction Modern Short Stories. Longman, London, 1965. Science Fiction. Longmans, Green, 1967. (Ed.) A West Country Anthology. Robert Hale, London, 1975. (compiler) Eight Ghost Stories. Structural Readers series. Longmans, Harlow, 1979. Shakespeare Detective and Other Short Stories. Longman structural readers. Longman, Harlow, 1986. Six Ghost Stories. Pearson Education, Harlow, 2000.

Biography Shakespeare's Life and Stage. Chambers, Edinburgh, 1989.

Edited classics Shakespeare, William. Henry V. Heritage of Literature series. Longman, London, 1975. (Editor and introduction) Blackmore R. D. The Lorna Doone Trail, Tracing the Story of Jan Ridd and Lorna Doone in Words and Pictures. Exmoor Press. (Editor and commentary)

English language textbooks 1950s The Criticism of Poetry. Longmans, Green & Co., London, 1950. Comprehension Practice. Longmans, Green & Co., London, 1951. English Study and Composition. Longmans, Green & Co., London, 1952. English Appreciation. Longmans, Green & Co., London, 1953. A Comprehensive English Course. Longmans, Green & Co., London, 1954. Modern Précis Practice. Longmans, Green & Co., London, 1955. Exercises in Criticism. Longmans, Green & Co., London, 1956. Handbook of English Practice. Hutchinson Educational, London, 1959. A First English Course. Longmans, London, 1958. A Second English Course. Longmans, London, 1959.

1960s A Third English Course. Longmans, London, 1961. A Fourth English Course. Longmans, London, 1962. A Fifth English Course. Longmans, London, 1963. Writing and Reading in English: A guide for the advanced student. Longmans, London, 1966.

1970s The Criticism of Prose. Longman, London, 1973. Using English: A language course for advanced students. Longman, London, 1976. African Poetry in English: An introduction to practical criticism. Macmillan, London, 1979. (With C. J. H. Chacksfield)

1980s People and Communication. Longman, London, 1980. Mastering English Language. Macmillan, London, 1982. ABC of Common Errors. Longman, Essex, 1983. Writing Letters. Longman, Harlow, 1983. Mastering English Grammar. Macmillan, Basingstoke, 1984. Spelling. Longman, Harlow, c.1984. Work out English Language 'O' Level & GCSE. 1986. Grammar. Longman, Harlow, 1987. Mastering Practical Writing. Macmillan Education, Basingstoke, 1987.

1990s Mastering English Language Palgrave, Basingstoke, 1992. (With J. A. Humphries) Mastering Practical Writing. Macmillan, Basingstoke 1987.

West of England Tiverton to Exmoor. Gore Allen & Co., [Tiverton]. Exmoor. Westaway, London. The North Devon Coast. A guide to its scenery & architecture, history & antiquities. Werner Laurie, London, 1953. Official Guide to Porlock and District. Gore Allen & Co., [Tiverton]. The South Devon Coast. A guide to its scenery and architecture, history and antiquities. Werner Laurie, London, 1954. The Coasts of Cornwall. Werner Laurie, London, 1955. Great Men of Devon. Men of the Counties series. J. Lane, 1956. (Also Bodley Head) The Exmoor Companion. Cider Press, Dulverton. Exmoor. Hodder & Stoughton, London, 1969. 2nd 1974. The West Country. The Regions of Britain series. Robert Hale, London, 1972. Devon Villages. Robert Hale, London, 1973.