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Footnote to the Nineties: A memoir of John Gray and André Raffalovich
The poetry of John Gray, the carpenter's son from Woolwich who was once thought to be the real-life original of Wilde's Dorian Gray, has been highly praised by Yeats, Geoffrey Grigson, and other authoritative judges. In preparation for the publication of John Gray's collected poems Fr Brocard Sewell, a specialist in the literary history of the 1890s, has written this lively account of the life and work of John Gray and of his friend Andre Raffalovich, novelist, poet, playwright, patron of the arts, and author of the first published account of the trials of Oscar Wilde.
121 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 1968
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April 29, 2023
The first and probably better of the two books written by Sewell on that odd couple of poets Gray and Raffalovich. The former, from humble beginnings in Bethnal Green became involved with the Oscar Wilde circle (he was an early lover and supposed to be a model for the 'Dorian' of Dorian Gray) and published one of the great books of 1890's poetry 'Silverpoints'. The latter, extremely rich from his family's connections with international banking wrote poetry (the poems in his 'Tuberose and Meadowsweet' were described by Wilde as 'unhealthy and bring with them the odour of the hot-house'.
The couple met under less than auspicious circumstances via their mutual friend Arthur Symons. Raffalovich had written an article (still unlocated) criticising Wilde and Grays work and Gray had replied tit for tat. However, on meeting, they found they had much in common and subsequently became good friends sharing a wide circle of friends such as Pierre Louys, Ricketts and Shannon, the Beardsleys etc. However Wilde (possibly jealous of Grays's involvement with Raffalovich) famously derided Raffalovich's 'salon', a snub which Raffalovich never forgave. The biography is particularly strong on this period drawing on previously unpublished letters and memoirs to flesh out the characters involved.
Like many of that circle, both men were drawn to towards Rome, with Raffalovich converting in 1896 and Gary studying to become a priest in 1898 ultimately officiating at a church in Edinburgh. Raffalovich would later follow and use his wealth for the Catholic cause paying for the construction of St Peter's Church in Morningside where Gray would remain until his death in 1934. Raffalovich had died four months earlier.
It must be said that the latter part of the book is far less interesting to me than the former as the doings of Priests and their pals are, well, not too exciting but both men were still writing and Sewell
neatly intersperses the more mundane elements of the men's lives with literary matters which helped to maintain my interest. Emphasis is on Gray and I would much have preferred to know more of Raffalovich's life outside the Church- he appears to be a friendly but correct and distant character- I guess best described as 'old school refined'.
As previously stated, Sewell draws on many (sometimes obscure or hard-to-access) sources and his appreciation of the men as poets and Catholics is obvious making this book a warm and sensitive portrayal of his subjects. It also quotes generously from their writings and includes a few articles written by Gray as an appendix. There is a lot to like here.
The couple met under less than auspicious circumstances via their mutual friend Arthur Symons. Raffalovich had written an article (still unlocated) criticising Wilde and Grays work and Gray had replied tit for tat. However, on meeting, they found they had much in common and subsequently became good friends sharing a wide circle of friends such as Pierre Louys, Ricketts and Shannon, the Beardsleys etc. However Wilde (possibly jealous of Grays's involvement with Raffalovich) famously derided Raffalovich's 'salon', a snub which Raffalovich never forgave. The biography is particularly strong on this period drawing on previously unpublished letters and memoirs to flesh out the characters involved.
Like many of that circle, both men were drawn to towards Rome, with Raffalovich converting in 1896 and Gary studying to become a priest in 1898 ultimately officiating at a church in Edinburgh. Raffalovich would later follow and use his wealth for the Catholic cause paying for the construction of St Peter's Church in Morningside where Gray would remain until his death in 1934. Raffalovich had died four months earlier.
It must be said that the latter part of the book is far less interesting to me than the former as the doings of Priests and their pals are, well, not too exciting but both men were still writing and Sewell
neatly intersperses the more mundane elements of the men's lives with literary matters which helped to maintain my interest. Emphasis is on Gray and I would much have preferred to know more of Raffalovich's life outside the Church- he appears to be a friendly but correct and distant character- I guess best described as 'old school refined'.
As previously stated, Sewell draws on many (sometimes obscure or hard-to-access) sources and his appreciation of the men as poets and Catholics is obvious making this book a warm and sensitive portrayal of his subjects. It also quotes generously from their writings and includes a few articles written by Gray as an appendix. There is a lot to like here.
Displaying 1 of 1 review