William Canton
Encyclopedia
William Canton was a British poet, journalist and writer, now best known for his contributions to children's literature
. These include his series of three books, beginning with The Invisible Playmate, written for his daughter Winifred Vida (1891-1901). In his lifetime he was known for his use of recent archeological evidence of prehistory in his poetry.
to a Catholic
family of civil servants. His childhood was spent mostly in Jamaica. He studied for the priesthood at Douai
and later in Paris
, but eventually abandoned the presthood as a vocation to become a teacher and writer. He later left the Roman Catholic Church
to become a protestant. He worked as a journalist in London and Glasgow
, where he became editor of the Glasgow Weekly Herald and later a leader-writer for the Glasgow Herald.
In 1891 Canton moved to London, where he worked for the publisher Isbister, later being appointed as editor of the Sunday Review
and the Sunday Magazine
. He also contributed articles and poems to Good Words
.
In 1901 Canton's daughter Winifred died suddenly at the age of 10. He resigned from Isbister and took up the offer to write the official history of the Bible Society
, which he hoped would comfort him. The nine volume history took five years to complete. He also published literature about Winifred: The Invisible Playmate, recollections of his daughter, W.V.: Her Book and Rhymes About a Little Woman.
Canton completed his history in 1910, after which he devoted himself to children's literature and historical works, including The Bible and the Anglo-Saxon People (1914) The Bible Story (1915).
supported Canton's attempts to introduce scientific terminology into verse. The Sanskritist Max Müller
also praised Canton's works, writing that "I look upon them as equal to Matthew Arnold
's poems, and having been an old friend and sincere admirer of Arnold, I could give no higher praise". Walter Pater
, wrote to Canton that he gave expression to "primeval, pre-adamite, or pre-historic subjects...you have certainly made their poetic side your own".
Canton's later work was more religious in emphasis, but his output almost ceased after the death of his daughter. In 1913 Canton began a new religious poem The Mask of Veronica, but it was unfinished at his death.
For the Bee, whose drowsy humming
Was prophetic of Man's coming,
Lies in gem-like tomb of amber, buried in the Miocene. (Through the Ages)
What year was it that blew
The Aryan's wicker-work canoe
Which brought the shell to English land?
What prehistoric man or woman's hand,
With what intent, consigned it to this grave —
The barrow set in sound of the Ancient World's last wave? (An Indian Cowrie found in a Cornish barrow at Land's End)
Children's literature
Children's literature is for readers and listeners up to about age twelve; it is often defined in four different ways: books written by children, books written for children, books chosen by children, or books chosen for children. It is often illustrated. The term is used in senses which sometimes...
. These include his series of three books, beginning with The Invisible Playmate, written for his daughter Winifred Vida (1891-1901). In his lifetime he was known for his use of recent archeological evidence of prehistory in his poetry.
Life
He was born at Chusan in ChinaChina
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
to a Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
family of civil servants. His childhood was spent mostly in Jamaica. He studied for the priesthood at Douai
Douai
-Main sights:Douai's ornate Gothic style belfry was begun in 1380, on the site of an earlier tower. The 80 m high structure includes an impressive carillon, consisting of 62 bells spanning 5 octaves. The originals, some dating from 1391 were removed in 1917 during World War I by the occupying...
and later in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, but eventually abandoned the presthood as a vocation to become a teacher and writer. He later left the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
to become a protestant. He worked as a journalist in London and Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, where he became editor of the Glasgow Weekly Herald and later a leader-writer for the Glasgow Herald.
In 1891 Canton moved to London, where he worked for the publisher Isbister, later being appointed as editor of the Sunday Review
Sunday Review
Sunday Review is a glossy supplement that goes free with the Sunday issue of The Times of India . It was discontinued and replaced by Men and Women, which was further replaced by the current supplement Times Life....
and the Sunday Magazine
Sunday magazine
A Sunday magazine is a publication inserted into a Sunday newspaper. It also has been known as a Sunday supplement, Sunday newspaper magazine or Sunday magazine section...
. He also contributed articles and poems to Good Words
Good Words
Good Words was a 19th-century monthly periodical in the United Kingdom. It was established in 1860 by Scottish publisher Alexander Strahan. Its first editor was Norman Macleod; after his death in 1872, it was edited by his brother, Donald Macleod....
.
In 1901 Canton's daughter Winifred died suddenly at the age of 10. He resigned from Isbister and took up the offer to write the official history of the Bible Society
Bible society
A Bible society is a non-profit organization devoted to translating, publishing, distributing the Bible at affordable costs and advocating its credibility and trustworthiness in contemporary cultural life...
, which he hoped would comfort him. The nine volume history took five years to complete. He also published literature about Winifred: The Invisible Playmate, recollections of his daughter, W.V.: Her Book and Rhymes About a Little Woman.
Canton completed his history in 1910, after which he devoted himself to children's literature and historical works, including The Bible and the Anglo-Saxon People (1914) The Bible Story (1915).
Poetry
Canton's early poetry was highly regarded in his lifetime for its attempt to represent in verse recent scientific theories, especially Darwinism, which he addressed in his poem Through the Ages (1879). Thomas HuxleyThomas Huxley
Thomas Henry Huxley PC FRS was an English biologist, known as "Darwin's Bulldog" for his advocacy of Charles Darwin's theory of evolution....
supported Canton's attempts to introduce scientific terminology into verse. The Sanskritist Max Müller
Max Müller
Friedrich Max Müller , more regularly known as Max Müller, was a German philologist and Orientalist, one of the founders of the western academic field of Indian studies and the discipline of comparative religion...
also praised Canton's works, writing that "I look upon them as equal to Matthew Arnold
Matthew Arnold
Matthew Arnold was a British poet and cultural critic who worked as an inspector of schools. He was the son of Thomas Arnold, the famed headmaster of Rugby School, and brother to both Tom Arnold, literary professor, and William Delafield Arnold, novelist and colonial administrator...
's poems, and having been an old friend and sincere admirer of Arnold, I could give no higher praise". Walter Pater
Walter Pater
Walter Horatio Pater was an English essayist, critic of art and literature, and writer of fiction.-Early life:...
, wrote to Canton that he gave expression to "primeval, pre-adamite, or pre-historic subjects...you have certainly made their poetic side your own".
Canton's later work was more religious in emphasis, but his output almost ceased after the death of his daughter. In 1913 Canton began a new religious poem The Mask of Veronica, but it was unfinished at his death.
Quotations
And our lineage was hoary ere Eve's apple tree grew green;For the Bee, whose drowsy humming
Was prophetic of Man's coming,
Lies in gem-like tomb of amber, buried in the Miocene. (Through the Ages)
What year was it that blew
The Aryan's wicker-work canoe
Which brought the shell to English land?
What prehistoric man or woman's hand,
With what intent, consigned it to this grave —
The barrow set in sound of the Ancient World's last wave? (An Indian Cowrie found in a Cornish barrow at Land's End)
Works
- A Lost Epic and other poems (1887)
- The fairy princess, and other poems
- The Invisible Playmate: A Story of the Unseen (1894)
- W. V. Her Book (1896)
- A Child's Book of Saints (1898)
- Children's sayings : edited with a digression on the small people (1900)
- In memory of W. V. (1901)
- The Comrades (1902) poems
- A history of the British and Foreign Bible Society, 5 vols (1904-1910).
- The Bible and the Anglo-Saxon People (1914)
- Poems (1927, Harrap)
External links
- Canton's Children's literature at Internet Archive
- W. V. Her Book and Various Verses and W. V.'s Golden Legend from the Baldwin Library of Historical Children's LiteratureUniversity of Florida Baldwin LibraryThe Baldwin Library of Historical Children's Literature in the Department of Special and Area Studies Collections at the University of Florida's George A. Smathers Libraries contains more than 103,000 volumes published in Great Britain and the United States from the early 18th century through the...
- William Canton poems at the Baldwin Project