The writing career of Richard Aldington spanned five decades and produced 143 separate titles, ranging from poetry and biography to literary criticism. Born in Portsmouth in 1892, he emerged as a central figure in the early twentieth-century Imagist movement, later applying his experiences as a soldier to his substantial body of prose, including the notable work Death of a Hero.
Formative Years and Education
Born Edward Godfree Aldington, he was the eldest child of Albert Edward and Jessie May Aldington. He spent his early life in an environment saturated with literature, as both parents published books and maintained a significant library. He attended Dover College before enrolling at the University of London. However, he could not complete his degree due to his father's financial difficulties caused by failed business speculations. Following this, he entered the workforce as a sports journalist and began publishing his own poetry.
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Aldington gained recognition as an early member of the Imagist group, which prioritized minimalist free verse and precise imagery over Victorian moralism. In 1912, Ezra Pound coined the term imagistes for Aldington and fellow poet H.D. Their work appeared prominently in the 1914 anthology Des Imagistes. Aldington also contributed to literary journals, serving as an editor at The Egoist and writing reviews for The Times Literary Supplement, Vogue, and The Criterion.
Military Service and Literary Legacy
Aldington served as a soldier during World War I, having joined the military in June 1916. His wartime experiences influenced his subsequent writing. Beyond his poetry and novels, he was a prolific biographer, eventually winning the James Tait Black Memorial Prize in 1946 for his work on Wellington. His career included an immense volume of correspondence, with approximately 8,000 letters located after his death in 1962 at Sury-en-Vaux.
Fast facts
- Born: 1892, Portsmouth
- Died: 1962, Sury-en-Vaux
- Notable work: Death of a Hero
- Education: University of London; Dover College
- Military rank: soldier
- 1946 Award: James Tait Black Memorial Prize
- 1959 Award: Prix de gratitude mistralienne
Questions readers ask
What was Richard Aldington's role in the Imagist movement?
He was an early associate who championed minimalist free verse and stark imagery, with his work comprising roughly one-third of the inaugural 1914 anthology Des Imagistes.
Did Richard Aldington receive any major literary awards?
Yes, he won the James Tait Black Memorial Prize in 1946 for his biography titled Wellington and the Prix de gratitude mistralienne in 1959.
Achievements
- James Tait Black Memorial Prize — 1946
- Notable work: Death of a Hero
