Matthew Chapman

From Philosopedia

Matthew Chapman (1950 - )

Chapman was born in Cambridge. England. He is a great-great grandson of Charles Darwin as well as the grandson of poet Frances Crofts Cornford (née Darwin, 1886-1960) and classical scholar and poet Francis Cornford (1874- 1943), who in 1931 was Laurence Professor of Ancient Philosophy at Trinity College, Cambridge.

In Trials of the Monkey, An Accidental Memoir, Chapman tells why he left school at fifteen. When 25, he was in the film business and had become a writer-director.

An atheist, Chapman according to his website currently is preparing to direct his script, The Ledge, a philosophical thriller with an atheist hero.

He and documentary film producer Denise Dumont have a daughter (Anna Bella Charles Darwin Teixeira Chapman) and a stepson (Diogo Marzo).

Works

Trials of the Monkey: An Accidental Memoir (1980, 2002)

Chapman's first book investigates the Fundamentalist Christian town of Dayton, Tennessee, examining how the townspeople's views changed, if at all, since the 1925 Scopes trial. Publishers Weekly called it "an insightful study of a man trying to make sense of it all.an absorbing and finely honed journal of courageous, often amusing self-awareness."

40 Days and 40 Nights: Darwin, Intelligent Design, God, Oxycontin, and Other Oddities on Trial in Pennsylvania (2007)

Filmography

Black Water Transit (2007)

Runaway Jury (2003) (screenplay)

What's the Worst That Could Happen? (2001) (screenplay)

Color of Night (1994) (screenplay)

Consenting Adults (1992) (written by)

A Grande Arte (1991) (additional dialogue) (screenplay: English version)

Heart of Midnight (1988) (screenplay, director)

Slow Burn (1986) (screenplay, director)

Stranger's Kiss (1983) (screenplay, director)

Hussy (1980) (screenplay, director)

Videos

Chapman has been interviewed about his works and his philosophy.

{WAS, 5 Feb 2008}