John Gawsworth papers.

John Gawsworth was the pen name for Terence Ian Fytton Armstrong (1912-1970), a prolific although minor English lyric poet, as well as an anthologist, bibliographer, critic and editor.

As a young man, he moved in London literary circles, championing traditional verse and campaigning against modernism. But throughout his life, he was an unflagging friend and supporter of all poets, regardless of whether he was an admirer of their individual work.

Armstrong never attended university but began working for a bookdealer in his teens, gaining an extensive knowledge of rare books and acquiring countless volumes of the 90s, Edwardian and Georgian poets who would so greatly influence his own work. His knowledge of poetry books, poets’ letters and memorabilia was famously encyclopaedic.

As well as compiling numerous anthologies of poems and short stories, he also published books of poetry under the pseudonym John Gawsworth including Confession (1931), Flesh of Cypris (1936), and The collected poems of John Gawsworth (1948); other books include Above the river (1931), Apes, japes and Hitlerism: a study and bibliography of P. Wyndham Lewis (1932), and The Dowson legend (1939). He was the editor of the English digest (1939-1941) and other periodicals including The literary digest (1946-1949) and The poetry review (1948-1952). He also ran the Twyn Barlwn Press, a small press publishing some acclaimed poets.

He was also known for his eccentricity. In particular, as literary executor to the fantasy fiction writer M.P. Shiel, he inherited Shiel’s claim to the throne of the Kingdom of Redonda and took great delight in styling himself H.M. Juan I.

Armstrong was indefatigable in his collecting, editing, selling and writing of poetry. His own verse won a share of praise but his perceived anachronism, outdated lyricism, sometimes imitative style and weaker verse were strongly criticised. Undaunted, he continued writing poetry throughout his life.

Sources: Finding aid for, John Gawswoth Papers (collection 642). Department of Special Collections,Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles. Retrieved from http://www.oac.cdlib.org/view?docId=tf50000652;query=;style=oac4;view=admin#descgrp-1.8.2.

Eng, Steve, The lyric struggles of John Gawsworth, Books at Iowa 38 (April, 1983). Retrieved from http://www.lib.uiowa.edu/spec-coll/bai/eng.htm