# Peter John Stephens

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**Peter John Stephens** (31 July 1912 in [Chalfont St Peter](/source/Chalfont_St_Peter), [Buckinghamshire](/source/Buckinghamshire) – 11 June 2002) was a writer of [historical fiction](/source/Historical_fiction) books for teens and three children's books. He was also a poet, a lyricist for operas and musicals, and a playwright.

His play, *A Power of Dreams*, was produced off-Broadway with [Anne Meara](/source/Anne_Meara) of [Stiller and Meara](/source/Stiller_and_Meara) starred.

He died of [prostate cancer](/source/Prostate_cancer) in [Streatham](/source/Streatham), London.[citation needed]

## Works

### Plays

- *Hugh of the Glen and his clogs are all one* The Best One-Act Plays (1951–1952)
- *A Power of Dreams* Off-Broadway Production

### Children’s books

- The Story of Fire Fighting, Harvey House, 1966
- Lillapig, Ernest Benn Limited, 1972
- Faster Than Anything, Ernest Benn Limited, 1974

### Teen historical fiction books

- The Outlaw King, Atheneum, 1964
- Perrely Plight, Atheneum, 1965
- Towappu, Atheneum, 1966
- Battle for Destiny, Atheneum, 1967
- Claim to the Wilderness, W. W. Norton & Company, 1967
- The Crime of Jairus Posey, Andre Deutsch, 1969
- The Thief-Takers, W. W. Norton & Company, 1970
- The Shadow over Welesmere Gap, Andre Deutsch, 1971
- The Rogue, George G. Harrap & Co, 1973
- A Shot from a Sling, Andre Deutsch, 1975

**Opera Librettos (Composer Jan Meyerowitz)**

- Simoon, 2 Aug 1949 Tanglewood/Mass (from a Strindberg play)
- Godfather Death, 1 June 1961 New York; Conducted by [Peter Paul Fuchs](/source/Peter_Paul_Fuchs) 1962

## Family

His paternal great-great-grandfather, Matthew Stephens, was a successful Welsh [smuggler](/source/Smuggling) near Aberthaw in the Vale of Glamorgan.

He was the brother of [Richard Waring](/source/Richard_Waring), the US-based actor, and son of [Thomas E. Stephens](/source/Thomas_E._Stephens_(artist)), whose portrait of [Dwight D. Eisenhower](/source/Dwight_D._Eisenhower) hangs in the [Smithsonian Gallery of Presidents](/source/Smithsonian_Institution) and Evelyn Mary Waring. Retaining his British citizenship, Peter John wrote articles for the British Information Service, Rockefeller Center, New York City.

He was briefly married to the novelist, [Henrietta Buckmaster](/source/Henrietta_Buckmaster), before Marcia Nichols Holden, a foster daughter of [Harry Sidney Nichols](/source/Harry_Sidney_Nichols), was a poet and editor. Her son from a previous marriage was Anton Holden, Emmy winning sound editor and the author of *Prince Valium*, [Stein and Day](/source/Stein_and_Day), 1982 and *Dolly Vardon*, [Boustrophedon Press](/source/Boustrophedon_Press), 2013. They had two children Dylan Stephens and Gillian Stephens, both musicians. Divorced in 1968 and moving to England, he married Eliane Falconi, an opera singer. Her children from a previous marriage were Guy Cremnitz, Monique Cremnitz, Christiane Sasportas, Noelle Sasportas, John Sasportas, Louis Sasportas, Marie Therese Sasportas.They had one child, Dilys Stephens, an artist.

## References

- National Library of Wales – Llanmaes College – David Jones MSS, Ms 18507, Book 8, pp. 321–323 (Matthew Stephens, smuggler)
- The Best One-Act Plays, ed. Margaret Mayorga, New York, Dodd, Mead, 1937-1951/52)

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