Lord Vyet & Other Poems: 'To the edge of the smouldering light''

By Arthur Christopher Benson

Arthur Christopher Benson, FRSL was born on the 24th April 1862 at Wellington College, Berkshire. His father would later become the Archbishop of Canterbury. His brother was the noted E F Benson of ‘Mapp & Lucia’ literary fame.

The family was blighted by the early death of two children. Benson himself suffered with bi-polar disorder. None of the surviving children married.

In 1874 he went to Eton and thence on to King's College, Cambridge and achieved first-class honours in the Classical tripos in 1884.

From 1885 to 1903 Benson taught at Eton, but returned, as a Fellow of Magdalene College, to Cambridge in 1904 to lecture in English Literature. He became president of the college in 1912, and the Master from December 1915 until his death in 1925.

As a writer Benson was prolific across a number of genres. His essays and literary criticisms were much admired. His short story collections, mainly supernatural and ghost stories, along with several volumes of poetry were distinctive and of note.

As well he wrote lyrics for the ‘Coronation Ode’, which includes the rousing ‘Land of Hope and Glory’ set to music by Edward Elgar for the 1902 coronation of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra.

A Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, he founded the Benson Medal in 1916 ‘in respect of meritorious works in poetry, fiction, history and belles lettres’.

A C Benson died at the Master's Lodge at Magdalene on the 17th June 1925. He was 63.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Portable Poetry
• Release date: Jan 1, 2022
• ISBN: 9781803542287

Arthur Christopher Benson

Arthur Christopher Benson (24 April 1862 – 17 June 1925) was an English essayist, poet, author and academic and the 28th Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge. He is noted for writing the words of the song "Land of Hope and Glory". (Wikipedia)

Book preview

Lord Vyet & Other Poems by Arthur Christopher Benson

TO

The Hon. Maurice Baring

Arthur Christopher Benson, FRSL was born on the 24th April 1862 at Wellington College, Berkshire.  His father would later become the Archbishop of Canterbury.  His brother was the noted E F Benson of ‘Mapp & Lucia’ literary fame.

The family was blighted by the early death of two children.  Benson himself suffered with bi-polar disorder.  None of the surviving children married.

In 1874 he went to Eton and thence on to King's College, Cambridge and achieved first-class honours in the Classical tripos in 1884.

From 1885 to 1903 Benson taught at Eton, but returned, as a Fellow of Magdalene College, to Cambridge in 1904 to lecture in English Literature.  He became president of the college in 1912, and the Master from December 1915 until his death in 1925.

As a writer Benson was prolific across a number of genres.  His essays and literary criticisms were much admired.  His short story collections, mainly supernatural and ghost stories, along with several volumes of poetry were distinctive and of note.

As well he wrote lyrics for the ‘Coronation Ode’, which includes the rousing ‘Land of Hope and Glory’ set to music by Edward Elgar for the 1902 coronation of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra.

A Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, he founded the Benson Medal in 1916 ‘in respect of meritorious works in poetry, fiction, history and belles lettres’.

A C Benson died at the Master's Lodge at Magdalene on the 17th June 1925. He was 63.

Index of Contents

Dedication 

Prelude 

Lord Vyet

The Siren

A Trio 

The Railway 

The Mower 

Live-Bait 

The Shepherd

One by One

When Punctual Dawn 

‘’The Earth Hath Drunk Deep’’ 

In Eton Churchyard

The Artist in Church 

My Old Friend 

The Owl 

The Ringdove 

The Cat 

The Hawk

The Barbel

The Wishing Well

Jack-in-the-Box 

The Phoenix 

Evensong 

SONNETS

Self 

Keats 

Victory

The Pursuit 

The Gentian

The Grasshopper 

Utterance 

Anniversaries

The Long