Wilfrid Wilson Gibson (2 October 1878 – 26 May 1962) was a British Georgian poet, who was associated with World War I but continued publishing poetry into the 1940s and 1950s.
Wilfrid Wilson Gibson in The Bookman Vol 57, December 1919.
Gibson was born in Hexham, Northumberland. His parents were Elizabeth Judith Frances (born Walton) and John Pattison Gibson. Her father was a chemist who was interested in photography and antiquarianism.[1] His elder sister Elizabeth who became his teacher and mentor became a published poet.[2] He left the north for London in 1914 after his mother died. He had been publishing poems in magazines since 1895, and his first collections in book form were published by Elkin Mathews in 1902. His collections of verse plays and dramatic poems The Stonefolds and On The Threshold were published by the Samurai Press (of Cranleigh) in 1907, followed next year by the book of poems, The Web of Life.[3]
Despite his residence in London, and later in Gloucestershire, many of Gibson's poems both then and later, have Northumberland settings: Hexham's Market Cross; Hareshaw; and The Kielder Stone. Others deal with poverty and passion amid wild Northumbrian landscapes. Still others are devoted to fishermen, industrial workers and miners, often alluding to local ballads and the rich folk-song heritage of the North East.
During the early part of his writing life, Wilfrid Wilson Gibson wrote poems that featured the "macabre". One such poem is "Flannan Isle", based on a real-life mystery.
Gibson was one of the founders of the Dymock poets, a community of writers who settled briefly, before the outbreak of the Great War, in the village of Dymock, in north Gloucestershire.[6]
Gibson also published plays, as well as several prose works. For instance, he wrote and argued beautifully about the merit of verse at the time of World War II.[7] He wrote a piece of criticism on Italian Nationalism and English Letters by Harry W. Rudman regarding the contributions made by Italian exiles in England to English literature, which were in the form of poetry by and large.[8] He also wrote criticism on The Burning Oracle: Studies in the Poetry of Action by G. Wilson Knight, wherein he commends the fact that Knight sees the creative energy of living writers not only in the creation of artworks, but also in the creation of life itself.[9]
Dominic Hibberd, Wilfrid Gibson and Harold Monro, the Pioneers (Cecil Woolf, 2006)
NotesEdit
^Matthew, H. C. G.; Harrison, B., eds. (23 September 2004). "The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/33392. Retrieved 26 August 2023. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^Greenway, Judy (13 July 2023), "Gibson [married name Cheyne], Elizabeth [known as Elizabeth Gibson Cheyne] (1869–1931), poet and social activist", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, doi:10.1093/odnb/9780198614128.013.95466, ISBN978-0-19-861412-8, retrieved 24 August 2023
^'"Young men who knew that the age demanded something new in poetry were impressed by the austerity of his little 'working class' plays". (Joy Grant, Harold Monro & the Poetry Bookshop (1966), p. 19. Whistler p. 281 remarks on the colloquial, homespun realism that at first was admired in Gibson.
^Gibson met de la Mare, and quite a number of other poets, through Marsh (Theresa Whistler, Imagination of the Heart: The Life of Walter de la Mare (1993), p. 205 and 208) in 1912. It was with de la Mare that Gibson was to make the closest friendship. Gentle and unlucky, he himself best fitted Brooke's description of those good-hearted and simple and nice poets he wanted to protect.
^Paul Delany, The Neo-Pagans (1987), p. 199, writes of a business lunch 19 September 1912 at Marsh's flat, with Gibson, John Drinkwater, Harold Monro and Arundel del Re.
^Famous People of Herefordshire, Monmouthshire and Royal Forest of Dean at royalforestofdean.info
^Gibson, Wilfrid (1 October 1940). "Only Time Will Tell: An Indeterminate Meditation". English: Journal of the English Association. 3 (15): 109–111. doi:10.1093/english/3.15.109. ISSN 0013-8215.
^Gibson, Wilfrid (1 October 1940). "Italian Nationalism and English Letters". English: Journal of the English Association. 3 (15): 142–a–142. doi:10.1093/english/3.15.142-a. ISSN 0013-8215.
^Gibson, Wilfred (1 March 1940). "The Burning Oracle: Studies in the Poetry of Action". English: Journal of the English Association. 3 (13): 35–36. doi:10.1093/english/3.13.35. ISSN 0013-8215.
^Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of Literature. Merriam-Webster. 1995. ISBN9780877790426.
^The Literary Encyclopedia states that his reputation plummeted. Whistler p. 282 has Gibson's was the saddest fate of all the Georgians. Once acclaimed as the leader of an exciting new movement, , when that movement came into derision the critics found in him the epitome of its vices.
^Arthur Clutton-Brock (TLS, 24 February 1927, Five Modern Poets) considers Gibson alongside Eliot, AE, Herbert Read and James Stephens (pp 113-114). It is concluded there that "Mr Gibson's poetry... has its own specific qualities and is, in its essentials unique". In 1942 Philip Tomlinson refers to Gibson as "this distinguished poet" (TLS 31 January 1942 p. 57).
External linksEdit
Wikisource has original works by or about: Wilfrid Wilson Gibson
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wilfrid Wilson Gibson.
Page at Spartacus
Elizabeth Whitcomb Houghton Collection, containing letters by Gibson
Gloucestershire Poets, Writers and Artists Collection University of Gloucestershire Archives and Special Collections
Works by Wilfrid Wilson Gibson at LibriVox (public domain audiobooks)
Archival material at Leeds University Library
October 21, 2023
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Wilfrid Wilson Gibson 2 October 1878 26 May 1962 was a British Georgian poet who was associated with World War I but continued publishing poetry into the 1940s and 1950s Wilfrid Wilson Gibson in The Bookman Vol 57 December 1919 Contents 1 Early work 2 Death and reputation 3 Further reading 4 Notes 5 External linksEarly work Edit nbsp Memorial plaque in Hexham Gibson was born in Hexham Northumberland His parents were Elizabeth Judith Frances born Walton and John Pattison Gibson Her father was a chemist who was interested in photography and antiquarianism 1 His elder sister Elizabeth who became his teacher and mentor became a published poet 2 He left the north for London in 1914 after his mother died He had been publishing poems in magazines since 1895 and his first collections in book form were published by Elkin Mathews in 1902 His collections of verse plays and dramatic poems The Stonefolds and On The Threshold were published by the Samurai Press of Cranleigh in 1907 followed next year by the book of poems The Web of Life 3 Despite his residence in London and later in Gloucestershire many of Gibson s poems both then and later have Northumberland settings Hexham s Market Cross Hareshaw and The Kielder Stone Others deal with poverty and passion amid wild Northumbrian landscapes Still others are devoted to fishermen industrial workers and miners often alluding to local ballads and the rich folk song heritage of the North East In London he met both Edward Marsh and Rupert Brooke becoming a close friend and later Brooke s literary executor with Lascelles Abercrombie and Walter de la Mare 4 This was at the period when the first Georgian Poetry anthology was being hatched Gibson was one of the insiders 5 During the early part of his writing life Wilfrid Wilson Gibson wrote poems that featured the macabre One such poem is Flannan Isle based on a real life mystery Gibson was one of the founders of the Dymock poets a community of writers who settled briefly before the outbreak of the Great War in the village of Dymock in north Gloucestershire 6 Gibson also published plays as well as several prose works For instance he wrote and argued beautifully about the merit of verse at the time of World War II 7 He wrote a piece of criticism on Italian Nationalism and English Letters by Harry W Rudman regarding the contributions made by Italian exiles in England to English literature which were in the form of poetry by and large 8 He also wrote criticism on The Burning Oracle Studies in the Poetry of Action by G Wilson Knight wherein he commends the fact that Knight sees the creative energy of living writers not only in the creation of artworks but also in the creation of life itself 9 Death and reputation EditGibson died on 26 May 1962 in Virginia Water Surrey 10 His reputation was eclipsed somewhat by the Ezra Pound T S Eliot school of Modernist poetry 11 12 though his work remained popular Further reading EditDominic Hibberd Wilfrid Gibson and Harold Monro the Pioneers Cecil Woolf 2006 Notes Edit Matthew H C G Harrison B eds 23 September 2004 The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online ed Oxford Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 ref odnb 33392 Retrieved 26 August 2023 Subscription or UK public library membership required Greenway Judy 13 July 2023 Gibson married name Cheyne Elizabeth known as Elizabeth Gibson Cheyne 1869 1931 poet and social activist Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 odnb 9780198614128 013 95466 ISBN 978 0 19 861412 8 retrieved 24 August 2023 Young men who knew that the age demanded something new in poetry were impressed by the austerity of his little working class plays Joy Grant Harold Monro amp the Poetry Bookshop 1966 p 19 Whistler p 281 remarks on the colloquial homespun realism that at first was admired in Gibson Gibson met de la Mare and quite a number of other poets through Marsh Theresa Whistler Imagination of the Heart The Life of Walter de la Mare 1993 p 205 and 208 in 1912 It was with de la Mare that Gibson was to make the closest friendship Gentle and unlucky he himself best fitted Brooke s description of those good hearted and simple and nice poets he wanted to protect Paul Delany The Neo Pagans 1987 p 199 writes of a business lunch 19 September 1912 at Marsh s flat with Gibson John Drinkwater Harold Monro and Arundel del Re Famous People of Herefordshire Monmouthshire and Royal Forest of Dean at royalforestofdean info Gibson Wilfrid 1 October 1940 Only Time Will Tell An Indeterminate Meditation English Journal of the English Association 3 15 109 111 doi 10 1093 english 3 15 109 ISSN 0013 8215 Gibson Wilfrid 1 October 1940 Italian Nationalism and English Letters English Journal of the English Association 3 15 142 a 142 doi 10 1093 english 3 15 142 a ISSN 0013 8215 Gibson Wilfred 1 March 1940 The Burning Oracle Studies in the Poetry of Action English Journal of the English Association 3 13 35 36 doi 10 1093 english 3 13 35 ISSN 0013 8215 Merriam Webster s Encyclopedia of Literature Merriam Webster 1995 ISBN 9780877790426 The Literary Encyclopedia states that his reputation plummeted Whistler p 282 has Gibson s was the saddest fate of all the Georgians Once acclaimed as the leader of an exciting new movement when that movement came into derision the critics found in him the epitome of its vices Arthur Clutton Brock TLS 24 February 1927 Five Modern Poets considers Gibson alongside Eliot AE Herbert Read and James Stephens pp 113 114 It is concluded there that Mr Gibson s poetry has its own specific qualities and is in its essentials unique In 1942 Philip Tomlinson refers to Gibson as this distinguished poet TLS 31 January 1942 p 57 External links Edit nbsp Wikisource has original works by or about Wilfrid Wilson Gibson nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wilfrid Wilson Gibson Page at Spartacus Elizabeth Whitcomb Houghton Collection containing letters by Gibson Gloucestershire Poets Writers and Artists Collection University of Gloucestershire Archives and Special Collections Works by Wilfrid Wilson Gibson at Project Gutenberg Works by Wilfrid Wilson Gibson at Faded Page Canada Works by or about Wilfrid Wilson Gibson at Internet Archive Works by Wilfrid Wilson Gibson at LibriVox public domain audiobooks nbsp Archival material at Leeds University Library Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Wilfrid Wilson Gibson amp oldid 1180089367, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
