Raymond Hull

Raymond Hull – Life, Work, and Enduring Wisdom

Explore the life, writings, and memorable insights of Raymond Hull — the England-born Canadian playwright, screenwriter, and non-fiction author best known for co-authoring The Peter Principle.

Introduction

Raymond Hull (February 27, 1919 – June 7, 1985) was a prolific Canadian writer whose career spanned stage plays, television scripts, and numerous non-fiction works. Though many remember him for co-authoring The Peter Principle, Hull’s creative energy and influence extended widely: as a dramatist, lecturer, writing teacher, and literary advocate. His journey—from immigrant to literary stalwart—speaks to reinvention, craft, and a commitment to sharing wisdom.

In this article, we’ll trace his life, major works, creative approach, and some of his lasting words.

Early Life and Emigration

Raymond Hull was born on February 27, 1919 in Shaftesbury, Dorset, England. His father was a Primitive Methodist minister, which meant that religious discourse and public speaking were part of his early environment.

In the years following World War II, Hull emigrated to Canada (arriving in Vancouver in 1947). Early on, he undertook many jobs—serving as a waiter, janitor, farmhand, construction labourer, steward on a Yukon River sternwheeler, and even a spiritualist medium—before fully embracing literary life.

He discovered a talent for writing and enrolled in a creative writing course at the University of British Columbia at about age thirty. Over time, he invested in further writing practice, networking with writers’ clubs, and honing his craft.

Literary & Dramatic Career

Plays and Theatrical Work

Hull’s dramatic output includes a number of melodramas and stage plays, often produced or staged by his own company, The Gastown Players (a semi-professional troupe in Vancouver). Some of his better known plays are:

• The Drunkard (1967)

• Wedded to a Villain (1967)

• Son of the Drunkard (also known as The Drunkard’s Revenge, 1982)

• Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (adaptation)

• Roast Pig (a one-act comedy)

His plays often leaned toward melodrama, adaptation, or theatrical traditions, blending entertainment with moral or emotional undercurrents.

He also wrote television and radio scripts, especially for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC).

Non-fiction, Instructional and Popular Works

Hull was especially active as a non-fiction and “how-to” author. His books often bridged practical instruction, motivation, and creative expression. Some of his notable titles:

• Profitable Playwriting (1968)

• Writing for Money in Canada (1969)

• How to Get What You Want (1969)

• Effective Public Speaking (1971)

• The Peter Principle: Why Things Always Go Wrong (co-author with Laurence J. Peter)

• How to Write a Play (1983)

• Other works include Gastown’s Gassy Jack (with Olga Ruskin), Home Book of Smoke Cooking, The Art of Making Wine, The Art of Making Beer, How to Write “How-To” Books and Articles, Vancouver’s Past, How to Win an Election, The Male Climacteric.

His book How to Get What You Want became one of his enduring titles, staying in print for decades.

Teaching, Lecturing & Literary Advocacy

Hull was also a lecturer and teacher of writing, giving courses in community centres and to audiences interested in creative writing, public speaking, and authorship.

He left much of his estate and royalties as legacies to literary organizations: most of the royalties from his six plays and 18 books were bequeathed to the Canadian Authors Association, and a significant portion of his estate (≈ $100,000) was given to the Vancouver Public Library.

Hull’s private papers are held in Special Collections at the University of British Columbia.

Style, Themes & Creative Approach

Hull’s writing often reflected his varied life experiences, his workingman’s ethos, and his belief in disciplined craft. From his early years holding many jobs, he gained empathy for everyday struggles, which translated into the accessible, down-to-earth tone of many of his non-fiction works.

In plays, his use of melodrama, adaptation, and theatrical tropes reveals an affinity for dramatic expression and a willingness to revisit classical or popular forms.

His instructional books emphasize practicality, clarity, and encouragement for aspiring writers. He believed in imparting the mechanics, mindset, and discipline necessary for success.

One of his well-known lines captures his philosophy of staying true to voice:

“He who trims himself to suit everyone will soon whittle himself away.”

This saying, often attributed to him, underscores his belief in integrity and resistance to conformism.

Legacy and Influence

• Cultural impact through The Peter Principle: The book, co-written with Laurence J. Peter, became a huge international bestseller, introducing the idea that people in hierarchical organizations tend to be promoted until they reach a level beyond their competence.

• Support for Canadian literature: By donating royalties and estate assets to literary institutions, Hull contributed tangible support to the infrastructure of Canadian authorship.

• Teaching legacy: Through his writing courses, lectures, and published “how-to” works, he influenced many writers in British Columbia and beyond.

• Versatile body of work: He left an eclectic corpus spanning drama, instructional writing, adaptation, and popular non-fiction, showing how one creative life can encompass multiple genres.

• Cultural memory in Vancouver & BC: Hull is remembered locally via plaques, archival collections, and recognition by institutions like the Vancouver Public Library and UBC.

Though not always in the mainstream spotlight, his contributions to writing craft, Canadian literary culture, and popular thought endure.

Selected Notable Quotations

Here are a few quotations and aphorisms associated with Raymond Hull:

• “He who trims himself to suit everyone will soon whittle himself away.”

• About The Peter Principle, Hull described the book as “the tragi-comic truth about incompetence, its causes and its cure.”

• Reflecting on Vancouver and change:

  “I saw the city constantly smothered in smoke from the umpteen thousand wood, coal and sawdust-burning furnaces. I see it now … with atmosphere sparkling clear. We, as human beings, do have the power to beautify our environment, and to improve our lives. I am an optimist!”

These lines show his interest in environment, voice, integrity, and social responsibility.

Lessons from Raymond Hull’s Life

1. It’s never too late to find your calling. Hull began serious writing in his 30s, after a variety of life experiences.

2. Diverse life experience fuels creativity. His work in manual and service roles enriched his empathy and subject matter.

3. Solidarity with the writing community matters. His donations and estate planning show commitment to collective literary health.

4. Craft and generosity go hand in hand. He taught, published, and supported others as he built his own work.

5. Stay true to your voice. His famous aphorism warns against self-erasure in the pursuit of approval.

Conclusion

Raymond Hull was a multifaceted creator: from playwright and television writer to lecturer and author of timeless “how-to” guides. His legacy is felt not only in The Peter Principle but in the many writers he encouraged, the institutions he supported, and the integrity with which he navigated his career. While he may not be a household name globally, his life and wisdom offer inspiration for anyone who writes, teaches, or strives to live with voice and purpose.