John Masefield English poet and novelist Date of Birth: 01.06.1878 Country: Great Britain

Biography of John Masefield

John Masefield was an English poet and novelist. He was orphaned at a young age and was raised by his aunt. At the age of 13, he was sent to Liverpool to train as a sailor. After spending three years on merchant ships, Masefield lived in New York for two years.

Upon returning to England in 1897, Masefield became acquainted with W.B. Yeats and D.M. Sinclair. In 1902, he published his first collection of poems, "Salt Water Ballads," which included his arguably most famous poem, "Sea Fever." For eight years, Masefield worked as an independent journalist, novelist, playwright, poet, and literary critic.

In 1911, he created his first long poem, "The Everlasting Mercy," which brought him widespread recognition but was criticized by some for its harsh realism. This was followed by the poems "The Daffodil Fields" and "Dauber" in 1913. His poem "Reynard the Fox" (1919), a vivid description of a fox hunt, is often considered his best narrative poem.

In 1930, after the death of Robert Bridges, Masefield became the Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom. He was awarded the Order of Merit in 1935.

Masefield's early poetry is characterized by its sincerity, energy, and creative impulse, but its tone often veers into sentimentality. The language and meter can be primitive or awkward. His later poems show more refinement in form but lack the vitality of his earlier works.

In addition to his poetry, Masefield wrote several novels, including "Captain Margaret" (1908), "Sard Harker" (1924), and "Odtaa" (1926). He also wrote plays in verse, essays, biographies, and autobiographical and critical prose.