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An insightful biography of the war poet and novelist Richard Aldington, exploring his pre-war, wartime and post-war experiences, writings and relationships.
The story of Richard Aldington, outstanding Imagist poet and author of the bestselling war novel, Death of a Hero (1929), takes place against the backdrop of some of the most turbulent and creative years of the twentieth century. Vivien Whelpton provides a remarkably detailed and sensitive portrayal of the writer from early adolescence. His life as a stalwart of the pre-war London literary scene, as a soldier, and in the difficult aftermath of the First World War is deftly rendered through a careful and detailed analysis of the novels, poems and letters of the writer himself and his close circle of acquaintance. The complexities of London's Bohemia, with its scandalous relationships, social grandstanding and incredible creative output, are masterfully untangled, and the spotlight placed firmly on the talented group of poets christened by Ezra Pound as 'Imagistes'. The author demonstrates profound psychological insight into Aldington's character and childhood in her nuanced analysis of his post-war survivor's guilt, and consideration of the three most influential women in his life: his wife, the gifted American poet, H.D.; Dorothy Yorke, the woman he left her for; and Brigit Patmore, his brilliant and fascinating older mistress.Richard Aldington: Poet, Soldier and Lover vividly reveals Aldington's warm and passionate nature and the vitality which characterised his life and works, concluding with his triumphant personal and literary resurrection with the publication of Death of a Hero.
The story of Richard Aldington, outstanding Imagist poet and author of the bestselling war novel, Death of a Hero (1929), takes place against the backdrop of some of the most turbulent and creative years of the twentieth century. Vivien Whelpton provides a remarkably detailed and sensitive portrayal of the writer from early adolescence. His life as a stalwart of the pre-war London literary scene, as a soldier, and in the difficult aftermath of the First World War is deftly rendered through a careful and detailed analysis of the novels, poems and letters of the writer himself and his close circle of acquaintance. The complexities of London's Bohemia, with its scandalous relationships, social grandstanding and incredible creative output, are masterfully untangled, and the spotlight placed firmly on the talented group of poets christened by Ezra Pound as 'Imagistes'. The author demonstrates profound psychological insight into Aldington's character and childhood in her nuanced analysis of his post-war survivor's guilt, and consideration of the three most influential women in his life: his wife, the gifted American poet, H.D.; Dorothy Yorke, the woman he left her for; and Brigit Patmore, his brilliant and fascinating older mistress.Richard Aldington: Poet, Soldier and Lover vividly reveals Aldington's warm and passionate nature and the vitality which characterised his life and works, concluding with his triumphant personal and literary resurrection with the publication of Death of a Hero.
Price: $39.95
Pages: 471
Publisher: Boydell & Brewer Inc.
Imprint: Lutterworth Press
Publication Date:
25 July 2019
Trim Size: 9.21 X 6.14 in
ISBN: 9780718895464
Format: Paperback
BISACs:
BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / General, Biography: general
... To describe Aldington as a complicated individual is an understatement, and to call his relationships with other people complex is equally inadequate. It is one of the strengths of Whelpton's biography that she examines these complexities with great patience, clarity and objectivity... Whelpton is scrupulous in distinguishing between documented fact and fictionalized reconstruction and hypothesis... To read this biography is to be convicted that Aldington still deserves and important place in the history of English literature and literary life of the twentieth century. Vivien Whelpton has thus written a challenging book about an author most publishers still prefer to ignore, and Lutterworth Press is to be congratulated for publishing it
— Adrian Barlow
readers will be grateful to Whelpton for guiding us round the hairpin bends and blind alleys of [Aldington's] relationships.
— Robert Crawford
This is an absorbing and thorough discussion of Aldington's life and work, and illuminates the cultural life of London throughout the period.[...]The research is thorough and presented with a remarkably light touch, considering the level of detail here. Vivien Whelpton is to be congratulated on a very substantial achievement in a book which will long resonate with its readers.
This is a skilfully written biography. The writer displays a huge knowledge of the life of her subject and a very good grasp of the contemporary literature and other artistic expressions of the age.
— Marysa Demoor
— Adrian Barlow
readers will be grateful to Whelpton for guiding us round the hairpin bends and blind alleys of [Aldington's] relationships.
— Robert Crawford
This is an absorbing and thorough discussion of Aldington's life and work, and illuminates the cultural life of London throughout the period.[...]The research is thorough and presented with a remarkably light touch, considering the level of detail here. Vivien Whelpton is to be congratulated on a very substantial achievement in a book which will long resonate with its readers.
This is a skilfully written biography. The writer displays a huge knowledge of the life of her subject and a very good grasp of the contemporary literature and other artistic expressions of the age.
— Marysa Demoor
PART ONE: POET and LOVER
Chapter One: Bohemia: London 1911 - 1912: Patmore, Pound and H.D.
Chapter Two: Family secrets
Chapter Three: The perfect year: France and Italy, 1912-1913
Chapter Four: Triumphs and disappointments: marriage, journalism and war, 1913-1916
Chapter Five: The imagist poet: 1912-1916
PART TWO: THE SOLDIER
Chapter Six: Retreat to the country: 1916
Chapter Seven: War intervenes: 1916
Chapter Eight : To the front and back: 1917
Chapter Nine: Interlude
Chapter Ten : Betrayals: 1917-1918
Chapter Eleven: Complications: 1918
Chapter Twelve: The poet of war and desire
PART THREE: THE EXILE
Chapter Thirteen: The aftermath: 1919
Chapter Fourteen : Separation
Chapter Fifteen: Writing to live: 1920-1925
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen: More betrayals: 1926-1927
Chapter Eighteen: The end of the affair: Paris and Port Cros, 1928
Chapter Nineteen: The Novelist
Chapter Twenty: The Eaten Heart
Chapter Twenty-One: A new life: Brigit and Hilda: 1929
Chapter One: Bohemia: London 1911 - 1912: Patmore, Pound and H.D.
Chapter Two: Family secrets
Chapter Three: The perfect year: France and Italy, 1912-1913
Chapter Four: Triumphs and disappointments: marriage, journalism and war, 1913-1916
Chapter Five: The imagist poet: 1912-1916
PART TWO: THE SOLDIER
Chapter Six: Retreat to the country: 1916
Chapter Seven: War intervenes: 1916
Chapter Eight : To the front and back: 1917
Chapter Nine: Interlude
Chapter Ten : Betrayals: 1917-1918
Chapter Eleven: Complications: 1918
Chapter Twelve: The poet of war and desire
PART THREE: THE EXILE
Chapter Thirteen: The aftermath: 1919
Chapter Fourteen : Separation
Chapter Fifteen: Writing to live: 1920-1925
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen: More betrayals: 1926-1927
Chapter Eighteen: The end of the affair: Paris and Port Cros, 1928
Chapter Nineteen: The Novelist
Chapter Twenty: The Eaten Heart
Chapter Twenty-One: A new life: Brigit and Hilda: 1929