The Mother Of The Georgians

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 636, 12 April 1929, Page 14

The Mother Of The Georgians

PR AISIS a the literary pages of “The Observer ” under the editorship of Viola Garvin, Mi Hugh Walpole mentions that they are sometimes thought “too conservative,” probably because “the Iced ■ng review is from J. C. Squire, who mice the leader of the moderns, is now considered the mother of the Georgians, which is as much as to say that he died in 1914.” But, says Mr Walpole , ** Squire’s personality is as a matter of fact, one of the most interesting and intriguing. He is one of the best living English poets, but refuses to write poetry. He is unflinchingly courageous, but tht causes that he defends scarcely need defending. He is of a scrupulous honesty, but prefers men to b< coloured with the shadows of his own mind. His critical taste is largely affected by the fact that hi really has read, considered and loved a vast portion of English literature and tn this is sharply separated from many of the more modern critics who believe that English literature began in Paris about 1020. “He is obstinate as a mule ana good-humoured always. He has suf fered in the general estimation from too loyal a fidelity to his friends but for the real reading public in England that cares about literature he is the most trusted guide."