John Howlett is a multifaceted individual, excelling as a novelist, biographer, and screenwriter for film, radio, television, and stage. He earned a degree in History from Jesus College, Oxford, where he collaborated with his school friend, David Sherwin, to pen the original screenplay for "Crusaders", which later became the award-winning film "If..." directed by Lindsay Anderson.
John's early career saw him working on scripts with renowned English directors Seth Holt and Peter Duffell, as well as a film adaptation of "I Claudius" for Tony Richardson. After establishing himself as a novelist and biographer, John relocated to Italy, where he became a "jobbing screen-writer for hire all round Europe", producing original drama and adaptations for RAI and various international co-productions.
Throughout his career, John has contributed to numerous television projects, including "Murder of a Moderate Man", the adaptation of Len Deighton's "Game, Set and Match", and Roy Battersby's revival of "Doomwatch" in "Winter Angel". He has also worked on "Where Were You That Night?", "Bonne Chance Frenchie", and "Colpa di Coda".
In collaboration with Robert Campbell, John wrote the musical "Dean", a tribute to the life and career of James Dean, which premiered in London's West End and was later performed in Japan. The duo, along with composer Theo Jaskolowski, has since penned a new musical drama about the life and death of Federico Garcia Lorca.
John's deep involvement in 20th-century history is evident throughout his work, as he draws inspiration from the experiences of his family and the world around him. He is currently working on the Harry Cardwell series of novels, which will explore the intersection of history and fiction from 1916 to the new millennium.
John is married to his wife, and they reside in Rye, East Sussex. Their two daughters, Isabel and Suzanne, are both teachers, with Isabel living in Barcelona with her family and Suzanne residing in Stockwell, south London.
