Short biography of ae housman salt

lfred Edward Housman had two careers and excelled in both.

To an athlete dying young

He was a popular poet (still is) and one of his country's greatest Latinists. He was born in in Worcestershire with the Clee Hills of Shropshire on the western horizon. He was the oldest, and therefore the leader, of seven children (one sister said he taught her, in a game of moons and planets, all the astronomy she ever knew).There were always gardens, with streams and woods nearby.

A.

E. Housman by William Rothenstein. [Click on image to enlarge it.]

His mother died of cancer on his twelfth birthday: by his thirteenth he was a deist, and a few years later became the atheist he remained all his life.

Short biography of ae housman salt and pepper

He won a scholarship to St John's College, Oxford. Pater was there, Wilde was in his last term, Jowett was Master of Balliol, Ruskin was visiting professor of art, Hopkins was a priest writing 'Duns Scotus's Oxford' about the 'base and brickish skirt' already encroaching on the town.

It was a very Victorian place (apart from