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Phoebe Pool

Phoebe Pool (1913–1971) was a British art historian and spy for the Soviet Union.

Phoebe Pool
Born1913
London, United Kingdom
DiedDecember 1971
Alma materSomerville College, Oxford
Occupation(s)Art historian, Soviet spy
Notable workImpressionism (1967)
Parents
  • Gordon Desmond Pool (father)
  • Agatha Eleanor Burrows (mother)

Life edit

Pool was born in London in 1913, the daughter of Gordon Desmond Pool and Agatha Eleanor Burrows. She was diagnosed with depression at an early age.[1][2]

In 1931 Pool won a scholarship to Somerville College, Oxford, entering in 1932 to study history.[1] In 1934, Pool was awarded the Deakin History Essay Prize, but her mental illness prevented her from taking her degree. After leaving university, she lectured for the Workers' Educational Association (WEA) before working at Westminster Tutors, London, from 1942. She also wrote reviews for The Spectator. During the Second World War she worked for Air Raid Precautions. In 1945 she published a poetry anthology, called Poems of Death.[1][2]

Art historian edit

In 1954, Pool studied Art History as an external student at the Courtauld Institute of Art, University of London. She received a BA in 1957 with first class honours and two years later she obtained her PhD with her thesis on the literary and philosophical background to the early work of Pablo Picasso. Her supervisor was Anthony Blunt, who was also a spy for the Soviet Union. Blunt and Pool wrote a book together, Picasso: The Formative Years: a Study of his Sources (1962).[1][2]

In 1964 she began lecturing part-time at the University of Reading. Her book on Impressionism from 1967 became a popular success. Pool used the library of the Courtauld Institute of Art for most of her research.[2][1] Her writing style was simple, but not simplistic.[1]

Soviet spy edit

In January 1934 Arnold Deutsch, an NKVD agent, was sent to London. Peter Wright, the author of Spycatcher (1987), claims that Deutsch established a spy network based around the University of Oxford. This included Phoebe Pool, Jenifer Hart, Bernard Floud and Goronwy Rees.

In 1963, Michael Straight faced a background check in response to an offer of government employment in Washington, D.C., and decided voluntarily to inform family friend and presidential special assistant Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. about his communist connections at Cambridge. This led directly to the exposure of Blunt as the recruiter of the Cambridge Five spy ring, who on 23 April 1964 admitted to Arthur S. Martin being a Soviet agent and named twelve other associates as spies including Phoebe Pool. Blunt told Martin that Pool had worked as his courier in the 1930s. MI5 arranged for Anita Brookner, another member of the Courtauld staff, to interview Pool.[2] Pool confirmed Blunt's story and admitted passing messages with Hart to the Floud brothers from "Otto", identified as Arnold Deutsch.[3] John Costello pointed out in his Mask of Treachery (1988) that "[t]his suggested that the Cambridge ring had spread its tentacles to Oxford."[2]

Phoebe Pool died by suicide in December 1971 by throwing herself under a train.[1][2]

Selected bibliography edit

  • Pool, Phoebe and Stephenson, Flora. Plan for Town and Country. London: Pilot Press, 1944.
  • Pool, Phoebe. Poems of Death. 1945.
  • Pool, Phoebe and Blunt, Anthony. Picasso: The Formative Years: a Study of his Sources. Greenwich, CT: New York Graphic Society, 1962.
  • Pool, Phoebe. Degas. London: Spring Books, 1963.
  • Pool, Phoebe. John Constable. Blandford, 1964.
  • Pool, Phoebe. Impressionism. New York: Praeger, 1967.
  • Pool, Phoebe. Delacroix. London: Hamlyn, 1969.
  • Pool, Phoebe. Paul Gauguin. New York: Funk & Wagnalls, 1978.

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Pool, Phoebe". Dictionary of Art Historians. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Phoebe Pool". Spartacus Educational. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  3. ^ Macintyre, Ben; Bird, Steve (13 May 2009). "Civil servant Arthur Wynn revealed as recruiter of Oxford spies". The Times. London. Retrieved 1 September 2020.

Further reading edit

  • Blunt, Anthony. "Phoebe Pool." Burlington Magazine 114, no. 828 (March 1972): 177.
  • "Miss Phoebe Pool." The Times (London) December 28, 1971, p. 8.

phoebe, pool, 1913, 1971, british, historian, soviet, union, born1913london, united, kingdomdieddecember, 1971alma, matersomerville, college, oxfordoccupation, historian, soviet, spynotable, workimpressionism, 1967, parentsgordon, desmond, pool, father, agatha. Phoebe Pool 1913 1971 was a British art historian and spy for the Soviet Union Phoebe PoolBorn1913London United KingdomDiedDecember 1971Alma materSomerville College OxfordOccupation s Art historian Soviet spyNotable workImpressionism 1967 ParentsGordon Desmond Pool father Agatha Eleanor Burrows mother Contents 1 Life 1 1 Art historian 1 2 Soviet spy 2 Selected bibliography 3 References 4 Further readingLife editPool was born in London in 1913 the daughter of Gordon Desmond Pool and Agatha Eleanor Burrows She was diagnosed with depression at an early age 1 2 In 1931 Pool won a scholarship to Somerville College Oxford entering in 1932 to study history 1 In 1934 Pool was awarded the Deakin History Essay Prize but her mental illness prevented her from taking her degree After leaving university she lectured for the Workers Educational Association WEA before working at Westminster Tutors London from 1942 She also wrote reviews for The Spectator During the Second World War she worked for Air Raid Precautions In 1945 she published a poetry anthology called Poems of Death 1 2 Art historian edit In 1954 Pool studied Art History as an external student at the Courtauld Institute of Art University of London She received a BA in 1957 with first class honours and two years later she obtained her PhD with her thesis on the literary and philosophical background to the early work of Pablo Picasso Her supervisor was Anthony Blunt who was also a spy for the Soviet Union Blunt and Pool wrote a book together Picasso The Formative Years a Study of his Sources 1962 1 2 In 1964 she began lecturing part time at the University of Reading Her book on Impressionism from 1967 became a popular success Pool used the library of the Courtauld Institute of Art for most of her research 2 1 Her writing style was simple but not simplistic 1 Soviet spy edit In January 1934 Arnold Deutsch an NKVD agent was sent to London Peter Wright the author of Spycatcher 1987 claims that Deutsch established a spy network based around the University of Oxford This included Phoebe Pool Jenifer Hart Bernard Floud and Goronwy Rees In 1963 Michael Straight faced a background check in response to an offer of government employment in Washington D C and decided voluntarily to inform family friend and presidential special assistant Arthur M Schlesinger Jr about his communist connections at Cambridge This led directly to the exposure of Blunt as the recruiter of the Cambridge Five spy ring who on 23 April 1964 admitted to Arthur S Martin being a Soviet agent and named twelve other associates as spies including Phoebe Pool Blunt told Martin that Pool had worked as his courier in the 1930s MI5 arranged for Anita Brookner another member of the Courtauld staff to interview Pool 2 Pool confirmed Blunt s story and admitted passing messages with Hart to the Floud brothers from Otto identified as Arnold Deutsch 3 John Costello pointed out in his Mask of Treachery 1988 that t his suggested that the Cambridge ring had spread its tentacles to Oxford 2 Phoebe Pool died by suicide in December 1971 by throwing herself under a train 1 2 Selected bibliography editPool Phoebe and Stephenson Flora Plan for Town and Country London Pilot Press 1944 Pool Phoebe Poems of Death 1945 Pool Phoebe and Blunt Anthony Picasso The Formative Years a Study of his Sources Greenwich CT New York Graphic Society 1962 Pool Phoebe Degas London Spring Books 1963 Pool Phoebe John Constable Blandford 1964 Pool Phoebe Impressionism New York Praeger 1967 Pool Phoebe Delacroix London Hamlyn 1969 Pool Phoebe Paul Gauguin New York Funk amp Wagnalls 1978 References edit a b c d e f g Pool Phoebe Dictionary of Art Historians Retrieved 1 September 2020 a b c d e f g Phoebe Pool Spartacus Educational Retrieved 1 September 2020 Macintyre Ben Bird Steve 13 May 2009 Civil servant Arthur Wynn revealed as recruiter of Oxford spies The Times London Retrieved 1 September 2020 Further reading editBlunt Anthony Phoebe Pool Burlington Magazine 114 no 828 March 1972 177 Miss Phoebe Pool The Times London December 28 1971 p 8 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Phoebe Pool amp oldid 1219514819, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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