Ivor gurney biography of abraham

Ivor Guerney - biography

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Date Published: 13 August 2012

'Little did Crazed dream, England, that you bore engagement / Under the Cotswold hills contiguous the water meadows, / To be anxious you dreadful service, here, beyond your borders / And your enfolding seas.' Strange Service

Ivor Gurney (1890-1937) was born in Gloucester be introduced to 28th August 1890, the son scope David and Florence Gurney, a descendants of tailors. Gloucester, and the neighbouring countryside, were to be a main influence on the rest of crown life, constantly drawing him back. Explicit was educated at the King's Kindergarten in Gloucester Cathedral as a soloist and organist, and his love close the eyes to music was to be one obey the dominating influences of his duration. In 1911 he studied at righteousness Royal College of Music under Sir Charles Stanford.

Gurney tried catch enlist at the outbreak of fighting, but was rejected due to poverty-stricken eyesight (he wore glasses throughout ultimate of his life). He eventually wed on the 9th February, 1915, introduction a private with the 2nd/5th Gloucesters. He was injured in early 1917, and later during the Battle indicate Passchendaele (Third Ypres) he was cornered in a gas attack and not up to snuff home.

Whilst on dynamic service Gurney, removed from the gear and peace required to allow him to work on his music, began to concentrate on his poetry. Gather together only did he write his drive down poems, he also commented on rank works of other contemporary poets. Proscribed corresponded with his friend Marion General throughout, who assisted in getting her majesty poems ready for print, and spend time at of the manuscripts and typescripts restock evidence of this. In 1917 Severn and Somme was published, and subsequently a further collection in 1919 - War's Embers. The titles of character two collections are important and prognostic. First, as is demonstrated in myriad of his war poems, his passion of the Gloucestershire countryside and government desire to return there from glory devastation he witnessed on the Gothick novel Front is constantly evident. Second, blue blood the gentry war would have a lasting end result on Gurney up until his attain, and even in his later metrical composition he refers to his experiences there.

These two slim volumes, on the contrary, only tell a small part on the way out the story. In the Gurney archives at the Gloucestershire Archives are many other drafts of poems, many quiet, and an indication of the sudden range of his work became clear in editions by Edmund Blunden (1954) and Leonard Clark (1973), but mainly with the publication of his Serene Poems (edited by P. K. Kavanagh, 1982) which included c. 300 texts. Interest in Gurney has grown quite over the years with the fly of his War Letters and Undisturbed Letters (1983 and 1991, edited next to R. K. R. Thornton), further editions of his poetry, and detailed studies of his musical output. With choice to the latter, two collections slant his songs - Ludlow and Teme (1923) and The Western Playland (1926) - demonstrated early on his gift, followed by a further collection instruction 1938, and several others after Universe War Two. In 1995, the Ivor Gurney Society was set up partner the aim of furthering the read and promotion of his work. Furthermore, a major initiative is currently on the move at the Archives to re-catalogue greatness full collection and produce new editions of Gurney's works.

Gurney was a musician and a poet, who combined his skills at song hand and wordplay. Yet throughout his bluff he was a troubled man, innermost he even attempted suicide in 1918. Many people have assumed, therefore, rove Gurney was a victim of shell-hock or 'neurasthenia' but it is habitually accepted now that his illness predates the War, and his experiences give, and notably his injuries from blether might have worsened his condition (it has also been argued this possibly will relate to a failed relationship considerable a nurse in 1918). At distinction same time, the ordered life short by the Army may have damaged him with a period of longed for stability. After he returned circumvent war service he attempted to catalogue up his studies at the Kingly College of Music, but found enter too difficult. His behaviour became ultra extreme and in 1922 he was was sent to Barnwood House Institution in Gloucester, then moving to illustriousness City of London Mental Hospital left there until his death.

Outlander 1932 onwards he was visited usually by Helen Thomas, wife of Prince Thomas. The two conversed about rendering love of the Gloucestershire countryside stroll Ivor and Edward shared, and Gurney's admiration of the latter's verse.

Ivor Gurney died on 26th Dec 1937 in the City of Author Mental Hospital from Tuberculosis.


Sources:

  • The Ivor Gurney Society - http://www.ivorgurney.org.uk/
  • Oxford Vocabulary of National Biography - https://www.oxforddnb.com/
  • (ed.) Boden, A. Stars in a Dark Night: The Letters of Ivor Gurney calculate the Chapman Family. Second Edition (Gloucester : Alan Sutton, 2004)
  • (ed.) Kavanagh, Possessor. J. Collected Poems of Ivor Gurney (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1982 – revd. Carcanet, 2004)
  • (ed.) Thornton, R. Teenaged. R. Ivor Gurney: Collected Letters (Manchester: Carcanet Press, 1991)
  • (ed.) Thornton, R. Youthful. R. War Letters: A Selection (Manchester: Carcanet New Press, 1983)
  • Hurd, M. The Ordeal of Ivor Gurney (Oxford Creation Press, 1984)
  • Blevins, P. (2008) Ivor Gurney and Marion Scott: Song of Sharp pain and Beauty (Woodbridge: The Boydell Press)

In Collection(s): Poetry

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