Customer Reviews

Forever England: The Life of Rupert Brooke

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
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I've read almost every book written by or about Rupert Brooke and this is the best one. There are a lot of poems that aren't in the Collected Poems and can only be found in this book. It's gives the most complete look into his life as more things about him become available over the years.

A very interesting biography, well researched and providing an insight into a different time. What a fascinating time to have lived before such changes in the World. Mike Read allows us to feel this free spirited lifestyle of Brookes and Read's passion for the subject comes through in this which is more than just a biography but a record of events and changes in the lives of those associated with Brooke. Well researched and highly recommended.

Rupert Brooke has been dead for 83 years and in his lifetime, only published one (slim) book of poetry. But the man was fascinating, no question about it, and is still the subject of biographies. This latest, by Mike Read, was a delightful surprise, not only in that it exists at all, but also that it brings new facts to light. Read traveled to the places Brooke knew which gives an added perspective to the story. In some cases, we read Brooke's own descriptions and then learn how the places fared over the years. It's a nice touch. Clearly, Read is much impressed and enamoured by Brooke -- more so than some other biographers. Sometimes, this gets in the way. For example, in dealing with Brooke's sexual identity and experiences, the author makes assumptions that are based on hope but not fact. Also, he never mentions any of Brooke's prejudices which feature so largely in his prose (Letters From America, for example) and even some of the poetry. They are glaring omissions. The photographs are very nice, some I don't think I have ever seen except in the Modern Archives at King's College, Cambridge. The most eye-catching one, however, is of a woman Read describes as Brooke's daughter. Not only is this an amazing photo, but it's a pretty amazing fact as well--one based on the most tenuous of circumstantial evidence. To my knowledge, neither the existence of Brooke's "daughter" nor her photo has ever been presented as fact before. I, for one, would like to have seen more of the background evidence, as this is quite an extraordinary suggestion. I enjoyed Forever England and am grateful to Amazon for locating it when other booksellers could not.

Rupert Brooke has been an infatuation of mine for several years. I have searched for information to little avail, running into a mere paragraph here or there on my favorite poet. I can't describe my enjoyment of having an entire book devoted to him! I couldn't put it down, and if anything, Brooke has only grown in my favor. Amazon's service was incredible, and I look forward to more purchases in the future. If you haven't read Brooke or ordered from Amazon, it is my suggestion you do!

wish this WAS a review......i can't get hold of the book,its presently out of stock...i'm an avid lover of anything to do with rupert brooke..and would love to hear anyones review on the mike read book...to appease me while i wait for it to come back! :)