"If I should die think only this of me ..."

"That there's some corner of a foreign field/ That is forever ..." filled with the bones of a psychotic sex maniac who could have shagged for Britain at the Olympics!  Yes, I'm afraid that is Rupert Brooke, the poet who penned arguably the most patriotic poem since Shakespeare wrote Henry V's speech upon St. Crispian's day.  According to Nigel Jones, a biographer of Brooke, in today's Daily Mail, the man was a raving 'shagaholic' and either sex would do!  I know, I know, how one's illusions are shattered.

He was a lot more than that, though. Brooke’s fevered letters to his lovers and friends reveal a tormented mind which, in stark contrast to his Greek god looks and seemingly straightforward personality, descend into the dark depths of a sick hatred of women, anti-Semitism and sometimes sheer madness.

He was, of course, on the fringes of what would be known as the 'Bloomsbury set' which included such worthies as Virginia Woolf, Lytton Strachey and John Keynes, another multiple 'shagger'.  I'm no expert but one is forced to ask if there was a single member of the Bloomsbury set who wasn't 'away with the fairies' - in the full sense of that phrase!

One particularly interesting item in the article, well, it's interesting if like me you have a fondness for esoterica, is that one of Brooke's 'shagees', so to speak, was the Irish actress Cathleen Nesbit who, much later at the age of 86, would star with Gene Hackman in the film 'French Connection II'.  'Nottalotta people know that!' so you could confirm your reputation as an 'A1 crasher' by dropping that into the conversation at your next dinner party.  

Amongst his other conquests was a cousin of Laurence Olivier and the daughter of the then Duke of Wellington.  Where he found the time - and energy - to write poetry I have no idea.  Perhaps, on the whole, it was better that he died young and somewhat obscurely on a hospital ship in 1915 whilst on his way to Gallipoli.  

However, I am delighted to be able to tell you that, indeed, there is "honey still for tea" at the Old Vicarage, Grantchester but you will need to be awfully good chums with Jeffrey Archer to get a taste.   Yeeeeeeeeees, quite!

 

 

Comments

[Whitewall]

Looking at the photos of these two people reminds me of that lyric "I'm too sexy for my clothes...". Sung by somebody I don't remember.

[jimmy glesga]

Whitewall I think it was Right Said Fred that did it but I am sure David will know as he is probably a Saturday BBC Radio 11 listner to Tony Blackburn.
David I suppose if you have the money and time then shagging all day beats going to work and keeps you fit. He would have made a good Muslim.

[Andrew Duffin]

I enjoyed your post, thanks.

But I must admit the entire Bloomsbury set are high on my list of people I would prefer never to hear of, from, or about, for the rest of my life - along with Madeleine McCann, Jade Goody, Russell Brand, Princess Diana, Nicola Horlick, Amanda Knox, and a few other public nuisances.

Does this make me a crabbit old git?

Guilty, m'Lord!

[David Duff]

It was your wife, Whitehall, for goodness sake, wake up!

Jimmy, I can say quite honestly that I have never knowingly listened to BBC Radio II, and certainly not Mr. Blackburn.

Sentencing will follow, Mr. Duffin but you must expect at least 20 years non-stop 'sleb' TV shows!

[jimmy glesga]

David. Just aff subject. Anglo Irish Defense Agreement. Michael Fallon has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with his Irish counterpart Simon Coveney. Not mentioed in the press!

[Whitewall]

MY WIFE!? damn. She has been off the Manor a lot the last few years.

[Oswald Thake]

Ah, the old 'Plan W' of 1940! You and I will remember that, David. I recall you moaning about how difficult it would be driving your 'Matilda' tank on the Irish cart tracks of the time.

[Perry de Havilland]

My comment on that Daily Mail article you linked to was picking up on this:

"Brooke liked to compartmentalise his life"

Yes it is called "being English". Nothing wrong with that. Not everyone needs to know you are obsessed with growing marrows, or shagging sheep, or singing Anglo-Saxon drinking songs. Indeed it is a nasty modern failing to inflict everything you are upon everyone you know.

[Michael Adams]

So, de Havilland is reading D&N? Duff, you've made the big time now!

[David Duff]

Jimmy, you have me on the hip. I am second to none in acknowledging Irish ferocity in battle so I would prefer to have them on my side but, alas, can you ever totally trust those Fenians?

I think, Oswald, it would have been the Irish who were more worried about me even riding a bike along their cart tracks.

Welcome to D&N, Perry, and who, pray, told you about my prize-winning marrows?! As for the sheep, let me assure you, sir, we are just good friends!

Quite so, Michael, 'Samizdata' was one of the very first blogs I ever started reading.

[jimmy glesga]

David. The Fenians long gone to history although they did apparantly invade Canada which is worth a mention! Such a pity the ROI did not fight Adolf which is something some of the Yanks and Canadian visitors to NI seem to be ignorant about. I met a couple of elderly business people in Bushmills NI and they were unaware of the ROI role during the war. I was pleased to enlighten them.

[Whitewall]

Seeing how D&N is among the more avant guarde within the webosphere, I'm surprised this didn't get an above the fold mention- http://www.msn.com/en-us/health/wellness/evolution-may-explain-why-a-curvy-bottom-drives-men-wild/ar-BBiDT36?ocid=iehp

Frankly I'm glad for this as I long ago ran out of excuses.

[David Duff]

That is why, 'Whitewall, prior to marriage I insisted on measuring the Memsahib's rear end in all directions in order to ensure that it complied with specifications! I regret to say that the response was not befitting a lady! But what the hell, I married her anyway!

[Whitewall]

David, the first time I read this blog I sensed you were a detail oriented man.