Fletcher K.

Biography of Anthony Haden Guest and His Mother, Elisabeth Furse

From the dark shadows of World War II to the dazzling lights of the New York literary world, Anthony Haden-Guest's life is a vivid collage of resilience, creativity, and wit. Born February 7, 1937, in Marseille, France, his early years were marked by the dark presence of Nazi occupation, a shadowed place to start a life that would easily eclipse a lesser spirit. However, Anthony's family chose to live life to the fullest, creating respected careers and ideas that set them apart. Their cutting and witty personalities are a bright light coming from a dim time. Before him, his mother, Elizabeth Furse, was born in Kaliningrad on August 10, 1910, into a wealthy but emotionally distant Jewish family. Her early life in Berlin was charged with political activism as she fought against the rise of the Nazis by engaging with the Communist Party. Her fantastic career included smuggling critical reports of Nazi atrocities to influential newspapers, which foreshadowed the fearless spirit she would carry into the war years (Wolpert).

Anthony recalls a dramatic memory of his and his mother's daring escape. At the age of three, he and his family were confined to a ghetto, where all the Jews were herded and imprisoned. Anthony, though young, remembers precisely what the beds looked like-- dirty, small, and overcrowded (Guest). His mother, already marked for death as a Jew, received a tip from a French soldier whom she was friends with. He had pointed to a group of newly arrived soldiers playing soccer as he told her they were Gestapo and that she should leave. Immediately, with his help, Elizabeth orchestrated a gutsy escape for her and her young sons, relying on her wits and connections to navigate their way out of France to safety in London. Her bravery instilled in young Anthony an undeniable sense of adventure, a drive to live life, and to relish the freedom they won to the fullest (Guest). 

Once in London, Elisabeth Furse transformed her wartime experiences into a new chapter of influence. She immediately became an MI9 British agent by establishing escape routes for British servicemen, allied soldiers, and Jews escaping the Nazis. Her audacious actions included setting up safe houses, one even within a brothel, and smuggling messages hidden in unconventional ways (Furse). 

After the war, Elisabeth opened a trendy restaurant in Chelsea, London, becoming a hot spot for the city's elite. The restaurant she created was not only a place for people to eat but a place of commune for celebrities and entrepreneurs. Her eccentric personality marked Elisabeth's post-war life and refusal to conform to expectations. Her bistro was a hub where influential journalists, politicians, and celebrities mingled, and her flair for drama and the arts shaped the character of the establishment (Wolpert). Besides the restaurant, her flair shaped Anthony. Like his mother, Anthony carved out a significant place for himself in the world of journalism and arts rather than food. He later attended the elite Cambridge University, where he started his writing career by contributing to student magazines. His name grew as a writer with a keen eye for detail and sharp wit. His professional journey mirrored his mother's audacity and flair as he continued to live life to the fullest after starting at such a scary time. He took on the art world, corporate giants, and societal norms through his articles, books, and essays throughout the earlier years of his career. Anthony's writings, featured in publications like The New York Observer, Vanity Fair, and Esquire, show his unique blend of humor, critique, and inherent ability to tell compelling stories, a trait he no doubt inherited from his mother's unorthodox presence (Guestt). In his adult life of extreme fun, he moved to New York, where he wrote many books and would continue to live for the rest of his life. Today, Anthony continues to engage with the world through his work as a cartoonist at the age of 85, blending slight political commentary with humor (Guest). His transition from text to visual media has not snuffed his ability to provoke thought, controversy, and laughter; traits passed on through generations. Fun fact: his younger brother, Christopher Guest, has also made his mark-- in Hollywood with films such as This is Spinal Tap, Waiting For Guffman, Best In Show, and other cult classics. 

The legacies of Elisabeth and Anthony intertwine, showing how individual experiences can ripple through generations, shaping personal and professional paths. Elisabeth's life as a war hero and later a bistro entrepreneur in London created the foundation for Anthony's successful career in journalism and the arts, proving that the spirit of defiance and the quest for cultural engagement are forces that transcend any war or Holocaust. Their lives are defined by a love for challenging the status quo and a capacity to influence and reshape cultural conversations. Together, their course and creativity leave a lasting impression on their contemporaries and their family's legacy. Their lives remind us that all plants come from dirt and can grow hard from the rain. Heroism comes in many forms; whether you are a British agent, a bistro owner, or a playful writer, anybody can turn tragedy and pain into purpose. 

Interviewing Anthony was an unforgettable experience. He had so much humor that danced on the edge of arrogance--traits he appears to have gotten directly from his mom. His witty diversions often threaten to derail our conversations, which changes the simple interview questions into a lively challenge to stay on track. This dynamic added an element of spontaneity to our interactions, genuinely showing his sharp mind and storytelling skills in a way that was both enhancing and playful. His responses, though filled with things completely off-topic, were said with such a charm and a mischievous glint in his eye that it was impossible not to be entertained. Even when he threw jabs in response to questions he preferred to ignore, it was done with a touch that brought the conversation into a more playful, close space. Thank God I met this man.

Works Cited

“Elizabeth Furse (Nee Wolpert).” The British Entertainment History Project. British International Pictures, 1 July 1991.

Furse, Elisabeth. “Obituary: Elisabeth Furse.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 16 Oct. 2002.

Goldberg, Jeffrey. “Is It Time for the Jews to Leave Europe?” The Atlantic, Atlantic Media Company, 11 Sept. 2018.

Haden-Guest, Anthony. Down the Programmed Rabbit Hole: Travels through Muzak, Hilton, Coca-Cola, Walt Disney, and Other World Empires. William Morrow, 1973. 

Haden Guest, Anthony,  Interview by Fletcher Miles Kargman, 2024, over Zoom.

“Jewish Life Before the Holocaust.” United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Accessed 3 Nov. 2024.

Klemperer, Victor. “Victor Klemperer: ‘I Am German, the Others Are Un-German.’” Der Spiegel, 11. Feb. 2005.

“Time Ghost History - The Road to the Holocaust.” YouTube,, 11 Mar. 2020.

Artist Statement

I chose Anthony Haden-Guest and Elisabeth Furse, one because I know Anthony and two because their lives are a blend of World War II spy thriller, comedy, spy thriller, and a glamorous post-war comedy drama. From daring escapes from the Gestapo to witty commentary on the NYC art scene, their stories were so fascinating. The moment I chose to dramatize their bold escape from Nazi-occupied France — I knew it was an obvious pick. It's such a high-stakes, cinematic event that shaped not only her life but Anthonys as well, leaving him a legacy of bravery and wit. Writing the script was a great experience because the material was so compelling, but the execution of the video was where the real challenge was. Filming planning was complicated, trying to pick actors and a place to film, but filming itself was a breeze with my aunt and uncle acting as Anthony's mother and soldier, but editing? Let's just say I spent HOURS working with audio and transitions to get everything perfect. What I'll always remember about this project is how much fun I had filming the narrator part, bringing their stories to life, and discovering how witty, brave, and larger-than-life their personalities were and are. Their story ties directly to World War II and its aftermath, showing how a driven spirit can shine in dark times--a lesson that feels just as relevant today, especially when thinking about the resilience needed in conflicts today like the war in Gaza, where people need to take on personalities like these two to get through it. Ultimately, I learned from this project that history isn't just about dates and battles; it's about the people's stories and how their legacies shape our modern lives.