Rupert Brooke

On August 3, 1887, Rupert Brooke was born to a housemaster at Rugby School in England. In 1906, he won a scholarship to King's College in Cambridge. He joined the socialist Fabian Society (which was begun by Edith Nesbit and Hubert Bland, and ended up with many members, eg H.G. Wells, although many other academics and writers joined). Other members based in Cambridge at this time included: Hugh Dalton, Clifford Allen and Amber Reeves. Rupert Brooke also met several Fabian Society leaders, such as George Bernard Shaw, Beatrice Webb and Sidney Webb.

Over the next few years, Rupert Brooke began writing the poetry for he is remembered. He had two collections published, the first being Poems (1911), the latter book being Georgian Poetry (1913). Following the publishing of 'Georgian Poetry', Brooke had a mental breakdown, and later in the same year decided to tour Canada, the Pacific and the US.

When World War I broke out, Rupert Brooke joined the Royal Naval Division. In October, 1914, he took part in the Antwerp expedition. Following this experience, he wrote several famous poems, including Peace, Safety and The Soldier.

In February, 1915, Brooke sailed for the Dardanelles on the ship Grantully Castle. While on board the ship, he developed acute blood poisoning (assumed to be from an insect bite), and although he was transferred to a hospital ship, he died, on April 23, 1915. Rupert Brooke was buried on the Greek island of Skyros.

Rupert Brooke was a romantic war poet, unlike others such as Wilfred Owen, and his writings were very patriotic.

An exerpt from The Soldier:
If I should die, think only this of me:
That there's some corner of a foreign field
That is for ever England.

Source:
www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk