John Masefield (1878–1967)
Author of The Box of Delights
About the Author
Once one of the most popular English poets of the century, Masefield has fallen into undeserved neglect since his death. He was born in a Victorian house with rural vistas, which he later recalled as "living in Paradise." In childhood, he had a series of intense, visionary experiences inspired by show more both nature and literature, which gave him a habitual sense of participation in a greater life. These had weakened by 1891, when he entered training for the merchant naval service. An officer on the White Star Line's Adriatic, he jumped ship in New York in 1895 and roamed across America. He returned to England two years later when a recovery of his intense childhood visions convinced him he could succeed as a writer. Masefield excelled more at narrative than at symbolism. His first book, "Salt Water Poems and Ballads" (1902), displayed the allegiance to outcasts and wanderers that marks his subject matter. The musicality of that volume derives partly from the strong early influence of W. B. Yeats. Increasingly, Masefield experimented with colloquial diction, particularly from the lower classes. His "The Everlasting Mercy" (1911) recounted the conversion of a rural scoundrel in language that astonished many readers. Highly prolific, he produced more than 20 volumes of fiction, 17 plays, and other prose work besides his major volumes of poetry. Masefield still appeals particularly to the common reader. He was appointed poet laureate in 1930. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Image credit: George Grantham Bain Collection (Library of Congress)
Series
Works by John Masefield
On the Spanish main; or, some English forays on the Isthmus of Darien. With a description of the buccaneers and a short… (1972) 23 copies
Multitude and Solitude 13 copies
I want! I want! 6 copies
The Country Scene 5 copies
John M. Synge: A Few Personal Recollections with Biographical Notes By John Masefeld; S.E. (285/500) (1971) 5 copies
Collected Plays 3 copies
The street of to-day 3 copies
A Macbeth Production 3 copies
End and beginning 2 copies
An English prose miscellany 2 copies
St. George and the dragon 2 copies
Some verses to some Germans 2 copies
Ballads 2 copies
A Masque of Liverpool 1 copy
The Captive of the Smugglers 1 copy
Being Alone (short story) 1 copy
Dauber and Reynard The Fox 1 copy
Coronation Of Their Majesties King George VI And Queens Elizabeth: Official Souvenir Programme (1st) 1 copy
THE BIRD OF DAWNING 1 copy
Masters of Literature. Defoe 1 copy
Rosas 1 copy
Melloney Hotspur. 1 copy
Coming of Christ 1 copy
Recent Prose 1 copy
The Western Islands 1 copy
The Works of John Masefield 1 copy
The Way Of The Buccaneers 1 copy
Shakespeare & Spiritual Life. The Romanes Lecture Delivered at the Sheldonian Theatre 4 June 1924. 1 copy
The Ballad of Sir Bors, 1 copy
The War and the Future 1 copy
The starry night 1 copy
Easter 1 copy
sonnets 1 copy
Prose Plays: The Campden Wonder; Mrs. Harrison; The Sweeps of Ninety-Eight; The Locked Chest; The Tragedy of Non; The… (1925) 1 copy
Gautama the Enlightened 1 copy
Associated Works
Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama (1995) — Contributor, some editions — 958 copies, 7 reviews
The Illustrated Treasury of Children's Literature, Volumes 1-2 (1955) — Contributor — 476 copies, 4 reviews
A voyage round the world in the years MDCCXL, I, II, III, IV (1974) — Introduction, some editions — 99 copies, 1 review
The Greatest Sailing Stories Ever Told: Twenty-Seven Unforgettable Stories (2002) — Contributor — 78 copies
Gentlemen, Scholars and Scoundrels: A Treasury of the Best of Harper's Magazine from 1850 to the Present (1972) — Contributor — 61 copies
Marco Polo's Silk Road: The Art of the Journey - An Italian at the Court of Kublai Khan (The Art of Wisdom) (2011) — Foreword, some editions — 32 copies
Out of the Best Books: An Anthology of Literature, Vol. 4: The World Around Us (1968) — Contributor — 29 copies
The Lure of Atlantis: Strange Tales from the Sunken Continent: 40 (British Library Tales of the Weird) (2023) — Poet — 21 copies
Oogst der tijden : keur uit de werken van schrijvers en dichters aller volken en eeuwen (1940) — Contributor — 10 copies
Het Beste Boek 105: Draagstoel der tranen / De laatste hand / De Engelse gouvernante / De prijs van Londen — Author — 2 copies, 1 review
Stories for girls — Contributor — 1 copy
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Canonical name
- Masefield, John
- Legal name
- Masefield, John Edward
- Birthdate
- 1878-06-01
- Date of death
- 1967-05-12
- Burial location
- Westminster Abbey, London, England, UK
- Gender
- male
- Nationality
- UK
- Country (for map)
- England, UK
- Birthplace
- Ledbury, Herefordshire, England, UK
- Place of death
- Abingdon, Berkshire, England, UK
- Places of residence
- Ledbury, Herefordshire, England, UK
- Education
- King's School, Warwick, England, UK
- Occupations
- poet
poet laureate (UK)
novelist
ambulance driver (WWI)
seaman - Organizations
- American Academy of Arts and Letters (Foreign Honorary|Literature|1930)
Society of Authors (president|1937)
National Book League (president of National Book Council|1938-1944|first president of NBL|1945-1949) - Awards and honors
- Royal Society of Literature Companion of Literature
Order of Merit (1935)
Poet Laureate
Members
Discussions
Replacement or spare slipcase for The Box of Delights in Folio Society Devotees (March 2024)
Reviews
Box Of Delights by John Masefield
This has been recommended to me by so many sources. Despite the fact that I did try to read it once, the fact is that Bonnie just recommended it to me personally, so I'll have to try again.
Book 156 - John Masefield - The Box of Delights
In 1984 the run up to Christmas was filled with the six part children’s TV serial ‘The Box of Delights’. Starring the always brilliant Patrick Troughton and the ever versatile Robert Stephens. For years it held a warm place in my heart…one of those childhood memories that hangs around…like the smell of warm mulled wine…
Fast forward so many years and I have been listening to the audio dramatisation of the incredible novel by the wonderful company Big Finish.
Derek Jacobi takes on the role of the magical Punch and Judy man played by Troughton and Mark Gatiss plays his nemesis portrayed by Stephens.
Beautifully realised and brilliantly directed by Barnaby Edwards.
The dramatic storytelling recounts the story of young Kay Harker as he is drawn into the world of 1930s England…magical animals and mythical creatures…time travelling and the horrific pi-rats.
Terrifying…dark…kidnapped clergy and the very best of stories.
With friendships …stronger than family bonds and characters you will deeply care for. If you have never read or seen or listened to this wondrous festive tale…you must.
But be careful…the wolves are running…let’s hope we can all stay ahead…… (more)
In 1984 the run up to Christmas was filled with the six part children’s TV serial ‘The Box of Delights’. Starring the always brilliant Patrick Troughton and the ever versatile Robert Stephens. For years it held a warm place in my heart…one of those childhood memories that hangs around…like the smell of warm mulled wine…
Fast forward so many years and I have been listening to the audio dramatisation of the incredible novel by the wonderful company Big Finish.
Derek Jacobi takes on the role of the magical Punch and Judy man played by Troughton and Mark Gatiss plays his nemesis portrayed by Stephens.
Beautifully realised and brilliantly directed by Barnaby Edwards.
The dramatic storytelling recounts the story of young Kay Harker as he is drawn into the world of 1930s England…magical animals and mythical creatures…time travelling and the horrific pi-rats.
Terrifying…dark…kidnapped clergy and the very best of stories.
With friendships …stronger than family bonds and characters you will deeply care for. If you have never read or seen or listened to this wondrous festive tale…you must.
But be careful…the wolves are running…let’s hope we can all stay ahead…… (more)
I'll admit I gave up, but it was on page 261. This just made no sense to me. Reading the last paragraph explained a lot. My Vintage Book Circle group read it and mostly had the same response. I like my fantasy to be a little more grounded. I like to think there is some possibility that the story is real. This had no internal logic for me to grab on to. We found some things really shocking, like Little Maria habitually carrying a pistol!?!? Other times when Kay was worried about all the kidnappings and when asked what he would like to see choosing to see a tournament versus trying to find his friends or learning more about the bad guys plans. I was startled by Rat, not knowing if it was a nickname for a person or an actual rat. I did figure that out, but it just confused me more. I find it curious that this is the Christmas story that every one in Great Britain remembers. Here in the US we love Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer which originated as department store advertising. (how very American!) It might be interesting to see how this was adapted for movies and television.… (more)
My favorite version of the Arthurian legend. Flinty and ancient and so very beautiful.
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Statistics
- Works
- 189
- Also by
- 58
- Members
- 3,769
- Popularity
- #6,724
- Rating
- 3.8
- Reviews
- 59
- ISBNs
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- Favorited
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