A.E. Housman: The Scholar Poet

by Richard Perceval Graves

An illuminating biography of the major classical scholar and poet draws on published and unpublished materials in its detailed coverage of Housman's homosexuality, his transition from deism to atheism, and his belief in an indifferent universe

Genres: Biography

304 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1980

About the author

Richard Perceval Graves (born 21 December 1945) is an English biographer, poet and lecturer, best known for his three-volume biography of his uncle Robert Graves.

Richard Graves was born in Brighton, England, the son of John Tiarks Ranke Graves, a younger son of Alfred Perceval Graves. He was educated at Tollard Royal, Dorset, The White House, Wokingham and at Holme Grange School, Wokingham. He went on to Copthorne School (1954–1959), Charterhouse (1959–1964) and St John's College, Oxford (1964–1968). At Oxford, Graves read Modern History and then completed a Diploma in Education. He then taught at several schools until 1973, the year in which he became a full-time writer.

Graves is the author of some nineteen books, including biographies of T. E. Lawrence, A. E. Housman, the Powys brothers (John Cowper Powys, Theodore Francis Powys and Llewelyn Powys) and Richard Hughes. He has written a number of other books on a variety of subjects, and collaborated on several other publishing projects. Graves continues to write, and lectures on the subjects and people about whom he has written. He is married with three children and lives in Shrewsbury, Shropshire.

Reviews

[Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Decent. When writing a review of a literary biography. It is easy to conflate the book with the literary giant. I’ll try not to do so. This is well written, and interestingly structured, with overlapping layers representing his academic personal and literary histories. If I were to pick a fault it is that several of the poem excerpts are repeated more than once, which though Housman was not prolific seemed unnecessary. I was fascinated to read about his academic career, and how separate it was from his poetry. Also fascinating to hear how prickly he could be, and of his connoisseur’s love of food and wine. Any more would be a spoiler. If you like Housman, it’s a good biography.

[Richard Epstein · Rating 4 out of 5]

Housman's life is so spare in its exterior -- do you really want further details about the bitter dispute over the common-room wine or the insertion of that surplus digamma? -- you'd think biography would be difficult. You'd be right. There are a lot of books about Housman; some of the critical studies are good; but there are few good biographies. Most condescend to Housman -- "that poor repressed gay fellow, trapped in his iron scholarship" -- and think his life a barren wasteland, which occasionally blossomed inexplicably in wonderful verse. (Or worse, if they're really patronizing, in less than wonderful verse.) How anyone could possess the temerity to condescend to Housman is a mystery to me. He'd mince you in a single fine sentence and call the porter to sweep away your dust.

Anyway, this is the best bio I know, well worth your time and attention. Of course you'd still be better off memorizing the poems. They will serve you well in the hour when earth's foundations flee.

[Bob H · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a thorough biography of the legendary poet, covering his life, his academic achievements, his personal life -- including his homosexuality. It covers, in sensitive and perceptive detail, his poetry and academic achievements as a distinguished professor at Cambridge. The book places him in the context of his times, his family, his society, his university and his literary following through a long life, a world war, a period of major social change. Highly recommend.

[Mary Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love biographies. Even this very spare and chronologically driven story about one of my favorite poets whose poem "the stars have not dealt me the worst they could do...." Was the first I memorized as an adult. Happy to see him walking his path........