Michael Arlen, born Dikran Sarkis Kouyoumdjian in 1895, was an Armenian-born author who became one of the defining literary and social figures of 1920s England. Writing under his anglicized pseudonym, Arlen achieved his greatest literary and commercial success during the interwar period. He was celebrated for his distinctive, colloquial writing style—characterized by unusual inversions and an exotic pitch—which critics and readers of the era dubbed "Arlenesque."
Arlen's most famous work is his 1924 best-selling novel, The Green Hat, which epitomized his signature style of satirical romance set within English high society. Beyond these society romances, Arlen was a versatile writer who ventured into gothic horror, psychological thrillers, essays, and plays. His short story "The Gentleman from America" became a notable contribution to the thriller genre, later adapted for both film and Alfred Hitchcock's television series. In his later years, Arlen shifted his focus primarily toward political writing.
In his personal life, Arlen mirrored the sophisticated, dandyish characters of his fiction. Known for his immaculate grooming, elegant manners, and luxurious lifestyle, he was a prominent fixture in London's fashionable circles. Despite his high-society status, he remained acutely aware of the xenophobia and envy his foreign origins and rapid success provoked. His work also left a significant mark on early Hollywood, inspiring major film adaptations starring icons such as Greta Garbo and Bette Davis, and he contributed directly to screenwriting in the 1940s.
