The publication of The Outsider in 1956 transformed the twenty-four-year-old Colin Wilson into a national literary figure overnight. His examination of social alienation through the lens of key cultural and intellectual figures popularized existentialism in Britain and established a career that would eventually encompass more than a hundred books across multiple disciplines and genres.
Early Intellectual Development
Born in Leicester in 1931, Wilson developed an early interest in scientific inquiry, compiling a multi-volume manual of general science by age fourteen. His academic focus shifted toward literature shortly thereafter, driven by the discovery of George Bernard Shaw's plays. After leaving school at sixteen, he navigated a series of unfulfilling roles, including a brief period in the Royal Air Force, before committing himself to full-time writing in London.
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Living in isolation, Wilson began articulating his philosophical framework, which he termed phenomenological or new existentialism. This project aimed to create a constructive and optimistic alternative to existing existentialist thought. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, he produced the Outsider Cycle, a collection of six philosophical books that explored themes of human consciousness, the search for heroism in modern life, and the mechanics of profound mental experience.
Diverse Literary Contributions
Beyond his philosophical inquiries, Wilson maintained a prolific output that spanned criminology, occultism, and science fiction. His work often sought to investigate the extremes of human psychology and the paranormal. Following his collaboration with American psychologist Abraham Maslow, Wilson delved into the nature of peak experiences and the potential to induce heightened states of awareness through deliberate mental focus.
Public Reception and Later Career
Associated with the movement of angry young men in British literature, Wilson frequently encountered polarized responses from critics. While his early work received immense popular attention, subsequent books faced varying levels of scrutiny. Throughout his later decades, he continued to write and publish extensively from his home in St Austell until his death in 2013.
Fast facts
- Born: 1931, Leicester
- Died: 2013, St Austell
- Citizenship: United Kingdom
- Notable work: The Outsider (1956)
- Philosophy: New existentialism
- Total books: Over 100
- Language: English
Questions readers ask
What was the core focus of Wilson's philosophy?
He developed a 'new existentialism' that sought to create an optimistic framework for understanding human consciousness and mental strain.
Did Colin Wilson write anything other than philosophy?
Yes, he was a versatile writer whose bibliography included novels, science fiction, biographies, and extensive studies on criminology and the occult.
Achievements
- Notable work: The Outsider
- Notable work: The Occult: A History
- Notable work: The Book of Time
- Genres: Angry young men and non-fiction literature