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Peter Skirving, (Born 12th February 1928, Died 16th June 1970) was an English novelist and socialite in the 1960s art scene.

Early Life
Skirving was born on the 12th February 1928 in Redruth, Cornwall to Anglo-Irish parentage. His father, Patrick Skirving, had fled his native Belfast in his youth and, by the time Percy was born, was a junior manager at the local tin mines. His mother, Anne Skirving (maiden name unkown), was the English daughter of a doctor. She was born and raised in Redruth. It is believed that upon announcing her engagement to Patrick, she became estranged from her family. Peter attended school in Redruth up to the age of 14 when his father, fighting in the Second World War, died. It is believed that Skirving was disconsolate and left home shortly afterwards, never to return. His movements in the next few years are unknown, although it is suspected he moved to London and worked menial jobs.

Travelling and Europe
In the mid-1950s, Skirving travelled around Europe, certainly in France and Italy. Details are vague, but it is understood he lived a vagrant, wandering lifestyle, working behind bars and at restaurants to pay his way. He is known to have settled in Venice and Rome for long periods, describing them as places of 'exceptional beauty and romance'. It is in this period of his life that Skirving drew inspiration for his work.

Work and Later Life
Skirving returned to England in 1961, finding work as a clerk in London, living in Camden. With his close friend Albert Goodacre, he thrived socially and soon became a popular figure in the London social scene despite his lowly occupation. In 1964, Skirving finished the novel he had been working on since 1962, tentatively titled 'A step closer to Heaven'. It is believed that Skirving also often performed spoken word poetry, and was rather noteworthy, although he was never published and no record of his poetry survives. Skirving met his wife Martha in 1961 in a cafe in Camden. After a whirlwind romance, they were married 5 months later in February 1962.

Controversies
In 1964, Skirving agreed with a large London-based publisher for the publication of his novel, 'A Step Closer To Heaven' and the future publication of three more novels that Skirving was reportedly working on. After entering into the contract though, Skirving expressed disapproval over the representation and proposed advertisement of his work. He also expressed discontent, claiming he had yet to receive any payment. Legal action ensued and following his defeat in the drawn-out trial Skirving allegedly set fire to all of his work to prevent it from falling in to the hands of the publishers, and the novel never went into publication, hence Skirving's near erasure from history.

Death
After the debacle with his publishers, Skirving became disillusioned and is believed to have stopped writing all together. Financially he was crippled his prolonged legal woes. He declined into alcoholism and died March 1970, aged just 42 from complications relating to his alcoholism. He was survived by his wife and daughter, Mary.

Influences
Although read by very few, due to the holding back of his publication, Skirving's work was influenced by a number of contemporary artists. He is known to have read Kerouac and to have been largely influenced by the leader of the beat movement. He also loved Jazz music and the Romantic poets, the influence of whom is visible in his work.

Legacy
Peter Skirving is almost entirely forgotten. However, his daughter claims to have discovered the manuscript of 'A Step Closer To Heaven' and, as of November 2008, amidst pressure from literary critics who have read it, is thought to be considering the offers of various publishers as well as those from film studios variously attempting to make a feature of Skirving's novel and his life. It appears that his life and work may finally be brought to a larger audience.