Definition

Proper noun A surname, most famously that of Christopher Isherwood, a 20th-century Anglo-American writer known for his novels depicting pre-World War II Berlin and his collaborations with other literary figures.

Usage Notes

• "Isherwood" is used almost exclusively as a proper noun to refer to the person, Christopher Isherwood.
• It is not typically used with articles ("a" or "the").
• When used in a literary context, it often signifies a specific style of autobiographical fiction or writings about queer identity and exile.

Examples

• In biographical context:
  • Several biographies have been written about Isherwood.
  • The letters of Isherwood provide insight into his creative process.
• In literary context:
  • The novels of Isherwood are essential reading for understanding Weimar Germany.
  • Her thesis analyzes the narrative voice in Isherwood's Berlin stories.

Advanced Usage

• "Isherwoodian" (adjective): Pertaining to or characteristic of Christopher Isherwood or his works, often implying a clear, observant, and semi-autobiographical style.
  • The film has an Isherwoodian quality in its detached portrayal of city life.

Variants and Related Words

• Isherwoodian (adj): As defined above.

Synonyms

• Christopher Isherwood (full name).

Notes on Meaning

This word functions primarily as a proper noun referring to a specific individual. It does not have a common noun meaning. Its significance is entirely derived from the life and work of the writer Christopher Isherwood.

Noun

1. United States writer (born in England) whose best known novels portray Berlin in the 1930's and who collaborated with W. H. Auden in writing plays in verse (1904-1986)