2 Poems by Walter Savage Landor

Walter Savage Landor, born on January 30, 1775, in Warwick, England, was a prolific and influential writer whose life spanned nearly nine decades of tumultuous social and literary change. The eldest son of a wealthy doctor, Landor was afforded the privilege of an excellent education, first at Rugby School and later at Trinity College, Oxford. However, his fiery temperament and unyielding nature, traits that would characterize both his personal life and his literary works, led to his rustication from Oxford in 1794 for firing a gun in his rooms.

Landor's literary career began in earnest with the publication of "Gebir" in 1798, an epic poem inspired by his reading of Clara Reeve's "The Progress of Romance." Though initially overlooked, "Gebir" later garnered the admiration of notable literary figures such as Robert Southey and Samuel Taylor Coleridge. This work, with its vivid imagery and classical allusions, set the tone for much of Landor's subsequent poetry, which often drew upon themes and forms from antiquity.

In 1808, driven by a combination of patriotic fervor and a restless spirit, Landor joined the English expeditionary force in Spain to fight against Napoleon's armies. This adventure, though brief, left an indelible mark on his imagination and later inspired some of his most impassioned writing on liberty and tyranny.

Upon returning to England, Landor entered into a whirlwind courtship with Julia Thuillier, whom he married in 1811. The marriage, however, proved to be tumultuous, marked by frequent separations and reconciliations. This personal strife found its way into Landor's writing, particularly in his exploration of love, loss, and the complexities of human relationships.

The 1820s saw Landor produce some of his most enduring works. In 1824, he began writing his magnum opus, "Imaginary Conversations," a series of fictional dialogues between historical figures that would ultimately span six volumes. These dialogues, ranging from discussions between Diogenes and Plato to conversations involving more contemporary figures like Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, showcased Landor's vast erudition, his sharp wit, and his ability to breathe life into historical personages.

Landor's life took a significant turn in 1824 when he moved to Italy, settling first in Pisa and later in Florence. This expatriate period proved to be one of his most productive, as he found inspiration in the rich cultural heritage of Italy and the stimulating company of fellow English expatriates. It was during this time that he formed a close friendship with Elizabeth Barrett Browning and Robert Browning, who would later become his literary executors.

Despite his prolific output and the high regard in which he was held by many of his literary contemporaries, Landor's work often failed to achieve widespread popular success. This lack of recognition, combined with his volatile temperament and a series of unfortunate financial decisions, led to periods of financial distress and social isolation.

In his later years, Landor's writing took on a more introspective and elegiac tone. Works such as "Heroic Idylls" (1863) and "Last Fruit off an Old Tree" (1853) reflect a growing preoccupation with mortality and the passing of time. Yet even in his twilight years, Landor's passion for literature and his commitment to his craft remained undiminished.

Landor's influence on English literature extends far beyond his own works. His experiments with form and language, particularly in his prose poems and epigrammatic verses, prefigured many of the innovations of modernist poetry. His exploration of classical themes and his ability to inhabit diverse historical personae in his writing influenced writers as diverse as Robert Browning, Ezra Pound, and Oscar Wilde.

Landor's personal life was often as dramatic as his literary output. His quick temper and uncompromising nature led to numerous quarrels and legal disputes throughout his life. In 1858, at the age of 83, he was forced to flee Florence after publishing insulting verses about a former friend. He spent his final years in exile in Fiesole, cared for by Robert and Elizabeth Barrett Browning.

Walter Savage Landor died on September 17, 1864, in Florence, leaving behind a vast and varied body of work that spans poetry, prose, and drama. While he may not have achieved the lasting popular fame of some of his contemporaries, his influence on English literature is profound and enduring. His ability to blend classical erudition with romantic sensibility, his mastery of epigrammatic expression, and his fearless exploration of form and content continue to inspire and challenge readers and writers alike.

In the annals of English literature, Landor stands as a bridge between the Romantic and Victorian eras, a writer whose work embodies the intellectual vigor of the former and anticipates the formal experimentation of the latter. His life and work serve as a testament to the enduring power of literature to transcend the boundaries of time and place, inviting readers into imaginary conversations that continue to resonate with the complexities of the human experience.