John masefield full biography
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Recordings preserved include Masefield's 1916 Good Friday.Song settingsIn addition to the commission for Queen Alexandra's Memorial Ode with music by Elgar, many of Masefield's short poems were set as art songs by British composers of the time. He also diligently composed the requisite poem for important national events. However, a compromise was reached and in 1928 his "The Coming of Christ" was the first play to be performed in an English cathedral since the Middle Ages.Encouraging the speaking of verseIn 1921 Masefield gave the British Academy's Shakespeare Lecture and received an honorary doctorate of literature from the University of Oxford.
This spread to his leg and he died of the infection on 12 May 1967. Interest groups such as the John Masefield Society ensure the longevity of Masefield's opus. His last published book, "In Glad Thanksgiving", was published when he was 88 years old. Many felt that Rudyard Kipling was a likely choice. Masefield gives an account of life aboard the Conway in his book New Chum.In 1894 Masefield boarded the Gilcruix, destined for Chile.
However, the urge to become a writer and the hopelessness of life as a sailor overtook him, and in New York he jumped ship and travelled throughout the countryside. As a result of the writing of these three poems, Masefield became widely known to the public and was praised by critics, and in 1912, the annual Edmund de Polignac prize was bestowed upon Masefield.
Masefield was similarly a founding member, in 1924, of the Scottish Association for the Speaking of Verse. On one occasion a battalion of black soldiers danced and sang for him after his lecture. His work continues to inspire and resonate with readers today, reminding us of the enduring power of storytelling and the importance of connecting with the world around us.
Biography of John Masefield
He was born in Ledbury on 1 June 1878, the third of six children. In 1911, after a long drought of poem writing, he composed "The Everlasting Mercy". This form, with its simple rhyme scheme and strong beat, lends itself well to storytelling and allows Masefield to create a sense of immediacy and drama.
A Focus on Character and Setting
Masefield often focused on the lives of ordinary people – sailors, farm workers, and the marginalized members of society.
On the recommendation of the Prime Minister, Ramsay MacDonald, King George V appointed Masefield, who remained in the post until his death in 1967. He was awed by the beauty of nature, including a rare sighting of a nocturnal rainbow, on this voyage. Several of his works continue to be widely read and studied today.
Notable Poems
- Sea-drift: A collection of poems celebrating the sea and the lives of sailors.
- Cargo Ship: A vibrant and evocative poem depicting a ship laden with goods from exotic lands.
- August, 1914: A powerful and patriotic poem written in response to the outbreak of the First World War.
- The Wanderer of the Desert: A narrative poem showcasing Masefield’s knack for storytelling.
Key Novels
- John Inglesant: A historical novel set in the seventeenth century.
- The Fair Harbour: A coming-of-age story with the sea as a backdrop.
- Martin Hyde: A novel examining social injustice and the lives of the working class.
John Masefield Quotes Reflections on Life and the Sea
Masefield’s writing is filled with insightful observations about life, death, and the human condition.
Instead, he sought to capture the cadence of everyday speech and the raw energy of life.