Edward Thomas's biographer Matthew Hollis reads from Now All Roads Lead to France - the Guardian
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- Опубліковано 5 лют 2025
- Matthew Hollis reads from his book Now All Roads Lead to France, a biography of Edward Thomas, in the first world war poet's favourite pub, the White Horse Inn on the Froxfield plateau in Hampshire. The pub is also the subject of Thomas's first poem, Up in the Wind
I made the pilgrimage to the Stone and The White Horse Inn today and was very moved. The book unlocked this special knowledge for me. Thank you Matthew Hollis.
I almost skipped this because the description suggests that it is just a reading from the biography, but it is so much more. It was lovely to see the places which inspired Thomas in his last years.
I really appreciate the comment about poetry and walking! I was struck once when I read that Milton walked for 3 hours a day.
Thank you, I didn't know the road not taken was about Thomas.
This book is incredible, I adore Edward Thomas because of this book and it encouraged me to go to Dymock. I stayed for ages in the church there. Their exhibition about the Dymock Poets is well worth the visit. I didn't want to leave, my head was full of this beautiful man, Edward Thomas. Thank you Matthew Hollis for writing it.
i find it sad we were told nothing about Thomas and the work adelstrop growing up in glos in the 60s and 70s. i even lived in adelstrop in 73 and only recently stumbled upon this beautiful poem on youtube. its a work that will forever difine the county and yet we were told nothing at school in or out. at 59 now i find it amazing
Yes an excellent biography of a writer and poet who had an extraordinary talent .
Wonderful poet and favorite
thank you so much Matthew Hollis. I found it so moving to see his familiar places, especially the last place.
Your excellent book was read in one go and then some.
However, the notion of air from a passing shell pulling the breath from his body sounds a little far fetched. Whatever, the voice was taken from the poet.
Perhaps, Owen is unconsciously pertinent: "One ever hangs where shelled roads part." Condensing Frost, Thomas and the fatal irresponsibility. Thomas died, his family suffered.
I nowadays can only take so much of the first world war poetry, perhaps its a common response. The despair and sadness at such waste, and all that followed.
Maybe it feels too close in 2014?
But the artist makes glimpses of something else while staring at the horror: Hardy with his wisps of smoke and Thomas with the plough horse.
Matthew Hollis, hopefully you will write more on Edward Thomas - I would read it?
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In reality he was shot through the chest. I believe the story of the breathtaking shell was told to his wife, to spare her the thought of her husband dying a painful death. It is odd that it is presented here as truth.
You are right Luke, His CO Frank Lushington, who wrote the excellent "The Gambardier" a history of the Garrison Artillery during the Great War, wrote in a letter that was found in Dublin that he (Thomas) was shot through the chest, and the Bloodless death was to Spare Helen Thomas.
Thats a major failing in the authors research - if true. Good read though... and I read it in France :)
@@lyndhurst1960 A major failing? More of a minor error.
@@lyndhurst1960 I agree! I think it is a major error. Another biography which was published a few years later than Hollis’s in 2015 by Jean Moorcroft Wilson uncovered the truth about the death of Edward Thomas. In my view it is a better biography all round and felt far better researched than Hollis’s
I have read this book and it is wonderfull.
I'd like to know how Robert Frost coped with Thomas' death and with the idea that he may have lead to it, I don't say this condemningly, I know Frost himself had his darker moments, I wonder if this plagued him at all.
Any more vids like this?
Hated your poems, but liked much of the biography Matt.
You need to chill and not be a hater of those who can see with the soul of the eye ... best not to hate those who lived a life of seeing, but shared that poetic sight and journey with others, so that we too might see, and travel further, deeper into the gift of numbered days, into the creation of the written word .
There are none so blind as those who will not see ...