In 1908, he sailed to London with his friend (and future brother-in-law) Robert Graham Brown. He travelled extensively throughout the Continent, absorbing much of the intellectual milieu of that period. At that same time, he published several volumes of juvenilia, starting with Songs o’ the South in 1908, which was published by the secularist Charles Albert Watts. These early works were generally poorly received, and later, in order to dissociate himself from the embarrassment of having produced them, Blocksidge adopted the name ‘William Baylebridge’, both personally and professionally, in around 1925.[2]
While living in London, Baylebridge also published his earliest statements of fascist political theory, in both verse and aphoristic prose. These works were The New Life (1910) and National Notes (1913), both of which advanced a form of proto-fascism he called the ‘New Nationalism’, thus preceding the Italian movement by several years. In this regard, he was influenced primarily by British interpreters of Nietzsche, particularly the British eugenicists, notably John Davidson and George Bernard Shaw, as well as the Italian writer and revolutionary Gabriele D’Annunzio.[3] He remained in Europe until 1919.
Return to Australia and later lifeEdit
William Baylebridge's grave, South Head Cemetery, Sydney
When he returned to Australia in 1919, after over a decade abroad, he quickly moved to Sydney, where he divided his time between the city and a cottage in Blackheath. That same year, he released his first Australian publication, Selected Poems, which was published in Brisbane by Gordon & Gotch, partly through the help of a circle of Melbourne writers which included Nettie Palmer and Frank Wilmot. Shortly afterwards, he published his first novel, An Anzac Muster (1921), in London, possibly—as with his other English publications—with the help of a relative, the printer Edwin Blocksidge (Daily Telegraph, 3 November 1934, pp. 5).
For the rest of his life, Baylebridge consciously cultivated the air of a mysterious and reclusive prophet-poet. This involved not only the archaic style of his poetry and prose, but also his eschewing of all forms of conventional publicity.[4] He rarely published in anthologies; he refused to sit for portraits (despite several offers); he also refused, when asked, to speak at public events.
Baylebridge died on 7 May 1942. He is buried in South Head Cemetery. He never married and had no children.
ReceptionEdit
Though he was considered one of the premier poets of his day, critical opinion of Baylebridge has since waned considerably. On balance, the critic Firmin McKinnon probably put it best: "[Baylebridge's] outstanding fault is his obscurity, much of which, one fears, was deliberate and artificial. That is a pity for unquestionably he had poetic genius. Because of his affectation and obscurity his poetry will remain only for that select few who are willing to plod their way across tedious stretches of aridity in the hope of finding a few rare exotic blooms in places unfrequented by the ordinary seeker of Truth and Beauty."[5]
BibliographyEdit
Songs o' the South (1908)
Australia to England and other verses (1909)
Moreton Miles (1910)
Southern Songs (1910)
A Northern Trail (1910)
The New Life: A National Tract (to the men of Australia) (1910)
National Notes (1913)
Life's Testament: Songs from the Hill of the seven echoes (1914)
Seven Tales (1916)
A Wreath (1916)
Selected Poems (1919)
An Anzac Muster (1921)
National Notes (Second ed.) (1922)
Love Redeemed (1934)
National Notes (Third ed.) (1936)
Life's Testament (Second ed.) (1939)
Sextains (1939)
This Vital Flesh (1939) - Awarded the 1940 ALS Gold Medal
Moreton Miles (Second ed.) (1941)
This Vital Flesh (1961) - Collected Works Volume 1
An Anzac Muster (Second ed.) (1962) - Collected Works Volume 2
The Growth of Love (1963) - Collected Works Volume 3
Salvage (1964) - Collected Works Volume 4
ReferencesEdit
^"Baylebridge, William (1883–1942)". Baylebridge, William (1883–1942) by Nancy Bonnin. Australian Dictionary of Biography. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
^Keri, Adrian (2021). Australian Literary Fascists, 1905-1945: A Comparative Case Study into the Development of Fascist Ideology in Australia. University of Notre Dame.
^Macainsh, Noel (1975). Nietzsche in Australia: A Literary Inquiry into a Nationalistic Ideology. Verlag für Dokumentation und Werbung.
^Ross, Bruce Clunies (1996). "Silent Heroes". Kunapipi. 18 (2): 176.
Davison, Graeme (ed.). The Oxford Companion to Australian History (rev. ed., 2001: Oxford, Oxford University Press).
Jupp, James (ed.). The Australian People: An Encyclopedia of the Nation, its People and their Origins (2nd ed., 2001: Cambridge, Cambridge University Press).
Keri, Adrian (Adrian Keri). Australian Literary Fascists, 1905-1945: A Comparative Case Study into the Development of Fascist Ideology in Australia. University of Notre Dame Australia, 2021.
Macainsh, Noel. Nietzsche in Australia: A Literary Inquiry into a Nationalistic Ideology (Munich, 1976).
Miller, E. Morris, & Frederick T. Macartney. Australian Literature (1956, revised edition) Angus and Robertson, Sydney, pp. 53–55
Roberts, Neil (ed.). A Companion to Twentieth-Century Poetry (2001: Oxford, Blackwell).
Additional sources listed by the Australian Dictionary of Biography:
H. A. Kellow, Queensland Poets (Lond, 1930); T. I. Moore, Six Australian Poets (Melb, 1942); C. H. Hadgraft, Queensland and its Writers (Brisb, 1959); Southerly, 16 (1955), 35 (1975); Australian Literary Studies, 7 (1975-76), no 2; Quadrant, Mar-Apr 1975; Westerly, Mar 1975; Sydney Morning Herald, 19 Jan 1935, 17 Oct 1936, 4 May 1940, 16 May 1942, 22 May 1943; The Bulletin, 10 Aug 1938; W. Baylebridge manuscripts (State Library of New South Wales); H. M. Green manuscripts (National Library of Australia); Vance and Nettie Palmer papers (National Library of Australia); P. R. Stephensen correspondence (State Library of New South Wales)
October 21, 2023
william, baylebridge, december, 1883, 1942, born, charles, william, blocksidge, australian, writer, poet, political, theorist, only, known, photo, taken, when, poet, young, 1908, borncharles, william, blocksidge, 1883, december, 1883brisbane, queenslanddied7, . William Baylebridge 12 December 1883 7 May 1942 born Charles William Blocksidge was an Australian writer poet and political theorist 1 William BaylebridgeThe only known photo of William Baylebridge taken when the poet was a young man c 1908 BornCharles William Blocksidge 1883 12 12 12 December 1883Brisbane QueenslandDied7 May 1942 1942 05 07 aged 58 Sydney New South WalesOccupationPoet writer and political theorist Contents 1 Early life 2 Years in England 3 Return to Australia and later life 4 Reception 5 Bibliography 6 ReferencesEarly life EditBaylebridge was born in Brisbane Queensland the son of George Henry Blocksidge He studied at Brisbane Grammar School then under a private tutor the classicist David Owen Years in England EditIn 1908 he sailed to London with his friend and future brother in law Robert Graham Brown He travelled extensively throughout the Continent absorbing much of the intellectual milieu of that period At that same time he published several volumes of juvenilia starting with Songs o the South in 1908 which was published by the secularist Charles Albert Watts These early works were generally poorly received and later in order to dissociate himself from the embarrassment of having produced them Blocksidge adopted the name William Baylebridge both personally and professionally in around 1925 2 While living in London Baylebridge also published his earliest statements of fascist political theory in both verse and aphoristic prose These works were The New Life 1910 and National Notes 1913 both of which advanced a form of proto fascism he called the New Nationalism thus preceding the Italian movement by several years In this regard he was influenced primarily by British interpreters of Nietzsche particularly the British eugenicists notably John Davidson and George Bernard Shaw as well as the Italian writer and revolutionary Gabriele D Annunzio 3 He remained in Europe until 1919 Return to Australia and later life Edit nbsp William Baylebridge s grave South Head Cemetery SydneyWhen he returned to Australia in 1919 after over a decade abroad he quickly moved to Sydney where he divided his time between the city and a cottage in Blackheath That same year he released his first Australian publication Selected Poems which was published in Brisbane by Gordon amp Gotch partly through the help of a circle of Melbourne writers which included Nettie Palmer and Frank Wilmot Shortly afterwards he published his first novel An Anzac Muster 1921 in London possibly as with his other English publications with the help of a relative the printer Edwin Blocksidge Daily Telegraph 3 November 1934 pp 5 For the rest of his life Baylebridge consciously cultivated the air of a mysterious and reclusive prophet poet This involved not only the archaic style of his poetry and prose but also his eschewing of all forms of conventional publicity 4 He rarely published in anthologies he refused to sit for portraits despite several offers he also refused when asked to speak at public events Baylebridge died on 7 May 1942 He is buried in South Head Cemetery He never married and had no children Reception EditThough he was considered one of the premier poets of his day critical opinion of Baylebridge has since waned considerably On balance the critic Firmin McKinnon probably put it best Baylebridge s outstanding fault is his obscurity much of which one fears was deliberate and artificial That is a pity for unquestionably he had poetic genius Because of his affectation and obscurity his poetry will remain only for that select few who are willing to plod their way across tedious stretches of aridity in the hope of finding a few rare exotic blooms in places unfrequented by the ordinary seeker of Truth and Beauty 5 Bibliography EditSongs o the South 1908 Australia to England and other verses 1909 Moreton Miles 1910 Southern Songs 1910 A Northern Trail 1910 The New Life A National Tract to the men of Australia 1910 National Notes 1913 Life s Testament Songs from the Hill of the seven echoes 1914 Seven Tales 1916 A Wreath 1916 Selected Poems 1919 An Anzac Muster 1921 National Notes Second ed 1922 Love Redeemed 1934 National Notes Third ed 1936 Life s Testament Second ed 1939 Sextains 1939 This Vital Flesh 1939 Awarded the 1940 ALS Gold Medal Moreton Miles Second ed 1941 This Vital Flesh 1961 Collected Works Volume 1 An Anzac Muster Second ed 1962 Collected Works Volume 2 The Growth of Love 1963 Collected Works Volume 3 Salvage 1964 Collected Works Volume 4References Edit Baylebridge William 1883 1942 Baylebridge William 1883 1942 by Nancy Bonnin Australian Dictionary of Biography Retrieved 3 July 2023 Keri Adrian 2021 Australian Literary Fascists 1905 1945 A Comparative Case Study into the Development of Fascist Ideology in Australia University of Notre Dame Macainsh Noel 1975 Nietzsche in Australia A Literary Inquiry into a Nationalistic Ideology Verlag fur Dokumentation und Werbung Ross Bruce Clunies 1996 Silent Heroes Kunapipi 18 2 176 McKinnon Firmin 1942 William Baylebridge Meanjin Papers 1 9 11 Bonnin Nancy Baylebridge William 1883 1942 Australian Dictionary of Biography Volume 7 MUP 1979 pp 218 219 Davison Graeme ed The Oxford Companion to Australian History rev ed 2001 Oxford Oxford University Press Jupp James ed The Australian People An Encyclopedia of the Nation its People and their Origins 2nd ed 2001 Cambridge Cambridge University Press Keri Adrian Adrian Keri Australian Literary Fascists 1905 1945 A Comparative Case Study into the Development of Fascist Ideology in Australia University of Notre Dame Australia 2021 Macainsh Noel Nietzsche in Australia A Literary Inquiry into a Nationalistic Ideology Munich 1976 Miller E Morris amp Frederick T Macartney Australian Literature 1956 revised edition Angus and Robertson Sydney pp 53 55 Roberts Neil ed A Companion to Twentieth Century Poetry 2001 Oxford Blackwell Serle Percival 1949 Baylebridge William Dictionary of Australian Biography Sydney Angus amp Robertson Additional sources listed by the Australian Dictionary of Biography H A Kellow Queensland Poets Lond 1930 T I Moore Six Australian Poets Melb 1942 C H Hadgraft Queensland and its Writers Brisb 1959 Southerly 16 1955 35 1975 Australian Literary Studies 7 1975 76 no 2 Quadrant Mar Apr 1975 Westerly Mar 1975 Sydney Morning Herald 19 Jan 1935 17 Oct 1936 4 May 1940 16 May 1942 22 May 1943 The Bulletin 10 Aug 1938 W Baylebridge manuscripts State Library of New South Wales H M Green manuscripts National Library of Australia Vance and Nettie Palmer papers National Library of Australia P R Stephensen correspondence State Library of New South Wales Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William Baylebridge amp oldid 1174258943, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
