Poets' Club
Encyclopedia
The Poets' Club was a group devoted to the discussion of poetry
. It met in London
in the early years of the twentieth century. It was founded by Henry Simpson
, a banker. T. E. Hulme
helped set up the group in 1908
, and was its first secretary.
Hulme wrote a charter document: "Rules 1908". The group comprised mainly amateurs and met once a month, excluding the summer months of July, August, and September, for dinner, the reading of poems, and the presentation of short (20 minute) papers on various topics relating to poetry. Around the end of 1908
Hulme read the Club his A Lecture on Modern Poetry
. The Club produced several anthologies; the first two being — For Christmas MDCCCCVIII (January 1909
) and The Book of the Poets' Club (December 1909
). Two of Hulme's poems were included in the first, "Autumn" and "A City Sunset," and another two in the second. These are regarded as the first examples of Imagism
.
In 1909, Hulme began a side-project with F.S. Flint, both a critic and friend of the Poets' Club, called "The School of Images," introducing Ezra Pound to the group in April 1909. This group lasted less than a year but anticipated and motivated the Imagist movement.
The fourth and final anthology of the Poets' Club — Christmas 1913 — contained work by writers including: John Todhunter
, E. Nesbit
, Victor Plarr
, Henry Simpson, Alexander von Herder, A. St. John Adcock, Selwyn Image
, and Margaret Scott Thomson.
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
. It met in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in the early years of the twentieth century. It was founded by Henry Simpson
Henry Simpson (Poets' Club founder)
Dr Henry Simpson was a banker and the founder and president of the Poets' Club in London in 1908.-Sources:* Jewel Spears Brooker, Mastery and Escape: T S Elliot, University of Massachusetts Press, 1996, ISBN 1-55849-040-X. *...
, a banker. T. E. Hulme
T. E. Hulme
Thomas Ernest Hulme was an English critic and poet who, through his writings on art, literature and politics, had a notable influence upon modernism.-Early life:...
helped set up the group in 1908
1908 in poetry
Nationality words link to articles with information on the nation's poetry or literature .-Events:* Ezra Pound leaves America for Europe...
, and was its first secretary.
Hulme wrote a charter document: "Rules 1908". The group comprised mainly amateurs and met once a month, excluding the summer months of July, August, and September, for dinner, the reading of poems, and the presentation of short (20 minute) papers on various topics relating to poetry. Around the end of 1908
1908 in poetry
Nationality words link to articles with information on the nation's poetry or literature .-Events:* Ezra Pound leaves America for Europe...
Hulme read the Club his A Lecture on Modern Poetry
A Lecture on Modern Poetry
A Lecture on Modern Poetry was a paper by T. E. Hulme which was read to the Poets' Club around the end of 1908. It is a concise statement of Hulme's influential advocacy of free verse. The lecture was not published during Hulme's lifetime....
. The Club produced several anthologies; the first two being — For Christmas MDCCCCVIII (January 1909
1909 in poetry
Nationality words link to articles with information on the nation's poetry or literature .-Events:* Andrew Cecil Bradley, Oxford Lectures on Poetry* Founding of the Poetry Recital Society...
) and The Book of the Poets' Club (December 1909
1909 in poetry
Nationality words link to articles with information on the nation's poetry or literature .-Events:* Andrew Cecil Bradley, Oxford Lectures on Poetry* Founding of the Poetry Recital Society...
). Two of Hulme's poems were included in the first, "Autumn" and "A City Sunset," and another two in the second. These are regarded as the first examples of Imagism
Imagism
Imagism was a movement in early 20th-century Anglo-American poetry that favored precision of imagery and clear, sharp language. The Imagists rejected the sentiment and discursiveness typical of much Romantic and Victorian poetry. This was in contrast to their contemporaries, the Georgian poets,...
.
In 1909, Hulme began a side-project with F.S. Flint, both a critic and friend of the Poets' Club, called "The School of Images," introducing Ezra Pound to the group in April 1909. This group lasted less than a year but anticipated and motivated the Imagist movement.
The fourth and final anthology of the Poets' Club — Christmas 1913 — contained work by writers including: John Todhunter
John Todhunter
John Todhunter was an Irish poet and playwright who wrote seven volumes of poetry, and several plays.- Life :...
, E. Nesbit
E. Nesbit
Edith Nesbit was an English author and poet whose children's works were published under the name of E. Nesbit. She wrote or collaborated on over 60 books of fiction for children, several of which have been adapted for film and television...
, Victor Plarr
Victor Plarr
Victor Gustave Plarr was an English poet; he is probably best known for the poem Epitaphium Citharistriae....
, Henry Simpson, Alexander von Herder, A. St. John Adcock, Selwyn Image
Selwyn Image
Selwyn Image was a British clergyman, designer, including of stained glass windows and poet....
, and Margaret Scott Thomson.
Sources
- Patrick McGuinness (editor), T. E. Hulme: Selected Writings, Fyfield Books, Carcanet Press, 1998. ISBN 1-85754-362-9 (page xii)
- Jewel Spears Brooker, Mastery and Escape: T. S. Eliot, University of Massachusetts Press, 1996, ISBN 1-55849-040-X. (page 48)