Collected Poems of Humphrey Moore By John Bridgen Collected poetry of Humphrey Moore, with a biographical memoir by John Bridgen. The author, who knew Moore personally, has skilfully evoked the life of a poet, biologist and ardent educationalist who taught his pupils as equals and friends. ISBN-13: 9780718829599 Specifications: 234x156mm, 368pp, Hardback with b&w photographs Price: £27.50 • US$55.00 Publication: June 1997 Order this Title Now

About this Book

Humphrey Moore was, for generations of schoolboys at Dauntsey's, Shrewsbury and Clayesmore, the archetype of the public schoolmaster. He devoted his life to his pupils and taught them all he knew. He was born on 21 November 1913, the second of three sons of His Majesty's Inspector of Schools for Somerset. In this memoir the author takes us through Moore’s life, from his idyllic childhood discovering the delights and freedom of the countryside, to his love for and exploration of nature, music and poetry.

A shy and sensitive boy, he did well at school, studying at Bradfield under R.D. Beloe, who became one of the heroes of his youth and his constant ideal of what a Public School headmaster should be, and at Corpus Christi in Cambridge, where he studied Biology, the subject he was later to teach.

Moore first became a Public School teacher at Dauntsey’s and then worked at Shrewsbury. He later moved to Clayesmore School in Dorset, where he taught (apart from a spell with the Intelligence Corps in Iraq during the War) until his early death in 1968. His educationalist assumptions and ideals led him to become an outstanding teacher who touched many young boys’ lives. A man in whose inner life both ecstasy and angst coexisted, his poetry was inspired by W.H. Auden, Rupert Brooke, A.E. Housman and Matthew Arnold.

Although admired by Auden and Spender, his poetry has until now been scattered in the pages of school magazines and small-circulation poetry journals. Much of his oeuvre has not been previously published. John Bridgen, who knew Moore personally, was left the collection of his work, including his unpublished poetry. In this volume, he has brought together Moore's poems, and in his introductory memoir brings Moore to life, showing how his contributions as schoolteacher, biologist and poet grew out of his life and beliefs.

Reviews and Comments

"The affection he inspired in many of his pupils ... is shown by the detail and care taken by John Bridgen in bringing the poet's work to publication and in writing the biographical memoir."
The Old Bradfieldian

"John Bridgen's well-written memoir, and to a lesser degree Humphrey Moore's poems, show the potency of the golden dream of the public school and Cambridge world of the inter-war years, clear even to readers who had no part in it. In addition, the memoir is a fitting tribute to a good teacher and good man who served his world well and honourably, and made an impression as teacher and man upon many of those with whom he came into contact."
Alan Holden, Housman Society Journal

"... a substantial book of poetry, much of which is published for the first time... John Bridgen has written a moving memoir of Moore with an appreciation of the homosexuality and public-school ideals which made up this complex man."
Church Times

"The author ... writes with affection and understanding ..."
Michael Charlesworth, Old Salopian

About the Author

John Bridgen was educated at Clayesmore, where he became a friend of Moore’s, and at King’s College, Cambridge. After training for the Anglican priesthood at Ripon Hall, Oxford (now Ripon College), he served as the Rector of two parishes in Suffolk, and is still active in a number of pastoral rôles. His previous publications include an article in Auden Studies 1 about the influence of Frank McEachran on W.H. Auden.