Lascelles Abercrombie Criticism
Lascelles Abercrombie (1881-1938) was a prominent English poet, playwright, and critic, associated with the early 20th-century Georgian poets. Known for his dramatic form and colloquial diction, Abercrombie diverged from his contemporaries by focusing on metaphysical themes, striving to reveal an otherworldly dimension to human emotions. Though his poetry was sometimes met with mixed reviews, his work was characterized by a fascination with mystical and otherworldly influences, much like the works of Thomas Hardy, whom Abercrombie admired and wrote about in his critical study, Thomas Hardy: A Critical Study (1912).
Born into a wealthy family, Abercrombie began writing at a young age but was initially educated in the sciences. His career trajectory shifted following financial hardships caused by the Boer War, leading him to pursue journalism and, eventually, full-time writing. His early works, such as Interludes and Poems (1908), established his literary reputation, while Emblems of Love (1912) solidified his critical and popular success. He later ventured into verse drama with works like The Sale of St. Thomas (1911) and Deborah (1913), the latter recognized as a fine example of its genre by Louis Untermeyer.
Abercrombie's plays are noted for their symbolic realism, using metaphorical language and anti-heroic themes, as discussed by Esther Safer Fisher. His poetry is also celebrated for its vivid characterizations, deemed memorable by Cornelius Weygandt, and reflective of the era, as Mary C. Sturgeon noted. Despite facing criticism for prioritizing style over substance, as observed by several contemporaries, his theoretical works, such as The Theory of Poetry (1924), provide insight into his literary intentions and the challenges he faced in realizing them, as discussed by Rennie Parker.
Contents
- Principal Works
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Essays
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Deborah: Mr. Abercrombie's Verse Drama of Life among Fisher Folk
(summary)
In the following review, Untermeyer assesses Abercrombie's verse drama Deborah as one of the finest examples in its genre of its day.
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Lascelles Abercrombie
(summary)
In the following excerpt, Sturgeon examines the ways in which Abercrombie's poetry represents the age in which it was written.
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Realists of the Countryside
(summary)
In the following essay, Weygandt concludes that Abercrombie's vivid characterizations are the most memorable elements of his poetry.
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Lascelles Abercrombie—Playwright
(summary)
In the following essay, Fisher discusses how Abercrombie's plays convey “symbolic realism” through his frequent use of metaphorical language and symbolic settings, as well as by choosing anti-heroic themes and characters.
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Lascelles Abercrombie: ‘What Great Things I Meant to Do.’
(summary)
In the following essay, Parker places Abercrombie within the historical context of his contemporaries and discusses his critical reception.
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Deborah: Mr. Abercrombie's Verse Drama of Life among Fisher Folk
(summary)
- Further Reading