Keith Bullen (poet)
Encyclopedia
Keith Brebner Bullen was a British
poet and teacher who was part of the Salamander group in Cairo
during World War II
.
in 1891, and was born and brought up in Cape Town. In the 1920s he was a member of the teaching staff at The English School, in Cairo. At the school he met, and married in 1928, Wanda Tomlinson the daughter of Robert George Tomlinson
, Director of Salt's Brewery
in Burton on Trent. They returned to England to set up a preparatory school at Malvern
. Bullen, though a brilliant English scholar was no businessman and the school failed in 1934. He returned to Cairo to work for the British Council
. They were appointed by the council to run the Gezira Preparatory School, a British Council School in a Cairo suburb. The school was attended by Edward Said
.
and John Cromer Braun, an intelligence officer. The society rescued the work of the Cairo poets
when they had been posted all over the Middle East and published it in Salamander: A Miscellany of Poetry
. The 5,000-copy edition sold out in six weeks. Bullen also wrote and published his own poetry including translations from French poets.
, in Zamalek
, Cairo. This was in a flourishing condition and had just opened a new branch in Mohandeseen, Cairo, when sequestered by the Egyptian authorities at the time of the Suez crisis
. Mrs Bullen and her daughter Anne moved to Beirut
where they reopened the school. However after the outbreak of trouble in the Lebanon
they had to leave. In 1976 at the request of the Egyptian government, Mrs Bullen, now aged 72, and her daughter reopened the Manor House School in Heliopolis
, Cairo. A year later in 1977, the Mohandeseen branch was opened, and the school had 600 pupils. Mrs Bullen died in 1979.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
poet and teacher who was part of the Salamander group in Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Early life and schools
Bullen was the son of W A Bullen who had emigrated to Cape TownCape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
in 1891, and was born and brought up in Cape Town. In the 1920s he was a member of the teaching staff at The English School, in Cairo. At the school he met, and married in 1928, Wanda Tomlinson the daughter of Robert George Tomlinson
Robert George Tomlinson
Robert George Tomlinson was an English brewer and cricketer who played for Derbyshire between 1891 and 1893 and was later umpire in first class matches in Scotland....
, Director of Salt's Brewery
Salt's Brewery
Thomas Salt and Co. was a brewery that operated in Burton upon Trent for 150 years.The brewery was founded in 1774 as Joseph Clay and son by Joseph Clay, described in The "British Directory" of 1791 as one of the famous "nine common brewers of Burton-on-Trent." Joseph Clay came originally from...
in Burton on Trent. They returned to England to set up a preparatory school at Malvern
Malvern, Worcestershire
Malvern is a town and civil parish in Worcestershire, England, governed by Malvern Town Council. As of the 2001 census it has a population of 28,749, and includes the historical settlement and commercial centre of Great Malvern on the steep eastern flank of the Malvern Hills, and the former...
. Bullen, though a brilliant English scholar was no businessman and the school failed in 1934. He returned to Cairo to work for the British Council
British Council
The British Council is a United Kingdom-based organisation specialising in international educational and cultural opportunities. It is registered as a charity both in England and Wales, and in Scotland...
. They were appointed by the council to run the Gezira Preparatory School, a British Council School in a Cairo suburb. The school was attended by Edward Said
Edward Said
Edward Wadie Saïd was a Palestinian-American literary theorist and advocate for Palestinian rights. He was University Professor of English and Comparative Literature at Columbia University and a founding figure in postcolonialism...
.
Poetry
During his time in Cairo Bullen ran an "open house" on Sunday mornings which became a centre for poets and art lovers. These informal meetings were welcome to all regardless of nationality, colour or creed, and in 1941 came to the attention of members of the allied forces in Cairo. Bullen co-founded the Salamander Society of poets and writers, along with John WallerSir John Waller, 7th Baronet
Sir John Stanier Waller, 7th Baronet was an English author, poet and journalist. He was one of the group of Cairo poets during World War II...
and John Cromer Braun, an intelligence officer. The society rescued the work of the Cairo poets
Cairo poets
The British Army presence in Egypt in World War II had, as a side effect, the concentration of a group of Cairo poets. There had in fact been a noticeable literary group in Cairo before the war in North Africa broke out, including university academics. Possibly as a reflection of that, there were...
when they had been posted all over the Middle East and published it in Salamander: A Miscellany of Poetry
Salamander: A Miscellany of Poetry
Salamander: A Miscellany of Poetry was an anthology of poetry published by George Allen and Unwin in 1947 and featuring the work of many of the Cairo poets. It was edited by Keith Bullen and John Cromer. The title alluded to the rebirth of culture from the ashes of World War II...
. The 5,000-copy edition sold out in six weeks. Bullen also wrote and published his own poetry including translations from French poets.
Mrs Bullen's schools
Bullen died in 1946, but his widow founded her own school, Manor House SchoolManor House School
For the school in Ireland, see Manor House School, RahenyManor House School is a private school in Cairo, Egypt. The school provides both National and International certificates ....
, in Zamalek
Zamalek
Zamalek Sporting Club , is an Egyptian sporting club based in Meet Okba, Giza, Egypt that plays in the Egyptian Premier League....
, Cairo. This was in a flourishing condition and had just opened a new branch in Mohandeseen, Cairo, when sequestered by the Egyptian authorities at the time of the Suez crisis
Suez Crisis
The Suez Crisis, also referred to as the Tripartite Aggression, Suez War was an offensive war fought by France, the United Kingdom, and Israel against Egypt beginning on 29 October 1956. Less than a day after Israel invaded Egypt, Britain and France issued a joint ultimatum to Egypt and Israel,...
. Mrs Bullen and her daughter Anne moved to Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
where they reopened the school. However after the outbreak of trouble in the Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
they had to leave. In 1976 at the request of the Egyptian government, Mrs Bullen, now aged 72, and her daughter reopened the Manor House School in Heliopolis
Heliopolis (Cairo Suburb)
Modern Heliopolis is a district in Cairo, Egypt. The city was established in 1905 by the Heliopolis Oasis Company, headed by the Belgian industrialist Édouard Louis Joseph, Baron Empain, as well as Boghos Nubar, son of the Egyptian Prime Minister Nubar Pasha.-History:The Baron Empain, a well known...
, Cairo. A year later in 1977, the Mohandeseen branch was opened, and the school had 600 pupils. Mrs Bullen died in 1979.
Publications
- Salamander:A Miscellany of Poetry
- We stand alone... and other war sonnets
- Bells on the Breeze and other poems
- Charles Baudelaire:Un Poete Maudit
- Albert Samain: Un Pastelliste Exquis
- Alfred de Musset:Souvenir and other poems
- Paul Verlaine:Un Poete Saturnien