J.R. Ackerley

Joe Ackerley, later renowned by his literary pseudonym J.R. Ackerley, was the offspring of Roger Ackerley, a multifaceted and enigmatic individual with an unconventional family life. It appears that Roger Ackerley led a life of duplicity, maintaining at the very least two separate households, each with its own distinct family unit. Joe's mother, Janetta Aylward, shared the same paternal figure with another son, Peter Ackerley, and a daughter, Nancy. As Joe navigated his formative years, he began to develop an increasing awareness of his own sexual orientation, initially becoming conscious of his feelings during his school days. However, it would take him some time to muster the courage to act on these emotions, marking the beginning of a journey that would eventually shape his identity and artistic pursuits.