Rupert Brooke: Life, Death and Myth

by Nigel Jones

W.B. Yeats called Rupert Brooke "the most beautiful man in England." Winston Churchill lauded him as "all that one could wish England's noblest sons to be." Now, drawing on Brooke's revealing, previously unpublished letters, this new biography unveils the unsentimental truth about the fabled young poet.

Genres: Biography, History, Nonfiction, Biography Memoir

Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

Reviews

[Charles Goodger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent biography. You really get a feel for the man behind the myth. What a shame he had to die so young!

[Jane Scadding · Rating 5 out of 5]

At last a superbly researched and realistic biography of the mythologised "golden haired Apollo" of Brooke's close friend Frances Cornford's sentimental poem. Rupert Brooke's extraordinary intellect is revealed in his massive correspondence with his multitude of friends and lovers/mistresses. We see an emotionally intense and frequently mentally ill young man, burdened with legendary beauty and gifts.

Through his letters, we can observe a how a surfeit of gifts and a narcissistic and sensitive nature led to an extreme level of self-absorption and sometimes emotional cruelties and intense jealousies.

The gifts possessed by this poster boy for the Georgian Poets could be seen from his happy schooldays at Rugby, where Brooke excelled in sport and academia, being admired for his extraordinary charismatic beauty and charm. This success continued at Kings College Cambridge, where Brooke was admitted to the elite Apostles society and became a Fellow by the age of 21. Whilst at Cambridge, Brooke made a large and influential group of like-minded friends
who shared his Fabian and neo-Pagan activities, these friends often overlapping with the Bloomsbury intellectuals whom he came to detest for perceived spite and possible jealousy.

Always gripping, this biography achieved objective and fair analysis, though one never really gets to the crux of such a complex and quixotic personality. Brooke's early and tragic death during the First World War, created a distractingly heroic and sentimental legend around Brooke who never had the opportunity of fulfilling his formidable talents, leaving a short life's work of inevitably fervent immaturity and promise.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent and beautifully written biography, meticulously researched by Nigel Jones using, amongst other sources, the copious amount of correspondence which chart almost every day of the poet's life. Here Rupert is laid bare and the real man behind the myth uncovered. I'd say it's easily the best biography so far although it's a shame it was written before his relationship with Phyllis Gardner came to light. For that reason, I don't feel it can be called 100% definitive!

[Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a story. What a life! Brooke’s life, albeit cut short, was quite the whirl. The biographer captures it well, given insight into a truly amazing character. Brooke comes to life. Forever England, and more.

[Missclimpson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting view of pre WWI youth. Strange how many of them suffered from various mental problems. Rupert Brooke has been so respected and almost worshipped, it’s a bit shocking to read what a nasty piece of work he was.

[Maria del Pilar]

A poet who wrote about unpleasant themes.

[Christine Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most interesting.