Cambridge Encyclopedia :: Cambridge Encyclopedia Vol. 69

Sir Henry (John) Newbolt - Works

Poet, born in Bilston, Staffordshire, C England, UK. He studied at Oxford, became a barrister, and published novels. He is best known, however, for his sea songs - Admirals All (1897), which contained ‘Drake's Drum’, The Island Race (1898), Songs of the Sea, and others. In World War 1 he was controller of telecommunications and an official war historian, and published The Naval History of the Great War (1920).

Sir Henry John Newbolt (June 6, 1862 - April 19, 1938) was an English author and poet.

He was the son of H.F.

In 1914, he published Aladore, his only fantasy novel, which was concerned with a bored but dutiful Knight who abruptly abandons his estate and wealth to discover his hearts' desire and woo a half-fae enchantress in a tale filled with allegories about the nature of youth, service, individuality and tradition.

Probably the best known of all Newbolt's poems and the one for which he is now chiefly remembered is Vitaï Lampada, which contains the memorable refrain:

Play up, play up, and play the game. [This poem is detailed in full in the Clifton College page - as the poem refers to how a future soldier learns stoicism in cricket matches on the famous Close].

From 1900 to 1905, Newbolt was the editor of the Monthly Review.

The popularity of his verse was due to the solid beat of his rhythm.

Newbolt was knighted in 1915.

Works

Works by Henry Newbolt at Project Gutenberg The Old Country (1906) The New June (1909) The Naval History of the Great War (1920) A Ballad of Sir Pertab Singh He fell among Thieves Admirals All
Sir Henry (O'Neal de Hane) Segrave - Grand Prix motor racing career, Land speed record, Water speed record led to his death [next] [back] Sir Henry (Hallett) Dale - Research, Biography

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