Gilbert Beith - Edward Carpenter (Routledge Revivals): In Appreciation

Routledge Revivals

Edward Carpenter: In Appreciation , first published in 1931, presents a collection of tributes to and reminiscences about the renowned socialist poet, pioneering gay rights activist, environmentalist and political thinker. Embroiled in controversy with prominent figures of all political persuasions in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Carpenters vision of sexual freedom, democracy and an end to commercialism was maintained with integrity over the course of his whole life. These portraits and anecdotes testify to a man of both determination and warmth, whose writings, though inspirational for many up to the 1960s, are seldom read today.

In Appreciation

Edited by
Gilbert Beith

First published in 1931

by George Allen & Unwin Ltd

This edition first published in 2014

by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN

and by Routledge
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Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business

1931 Gilbert Beith

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.

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The publisher has gone to great lengths to ensure the quality of this reprint but points out that some imperfections in the original copies may be apparent.

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A Library of Congress record exists under LC control number: 31021737

ISBN 13: 978-1-138-01592-0 (hbk)
ISBN 13: 978-1-315-78056-6 (ebk)

EDWARD CARPENTER

IN APPRECIATION

Edited by
GILBERT BEITH

With two portraits

LONDON
GEORGE ALLEN & UNWIN LTD
MUSEUM STREET

FIRST PUBLISHED IN 1931

All rights reserved

PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN BY
UNWIN BROTHERS LTD., WOKING

IN My Days and Dreams , published in 1916, Edward Carpenter has given us the story of his life up to the age of seventya story both comprehensive and entertaining, as many of his readers will doubtless remember. Certain of his friends consequently felt that after his death in 1929 a composite memoir could fittingly take the place of a biography. The collecting and editing of the material for this memoir they requested me, as one of his literary executors, to undertake. This I consented to do although with some reluctance, feeling, as I did, that there must be others more fitted than I for such a task.

I had known Edward personally since 1913 and had been in close contact with him all through the post-war years. Then in 1923 we came, by a happy coincidence, to live in the same neighbourhood. But there were many of his friends and associates who were only names to me and to whom I was probably less than a name. By degrees, however, I was able to get into touch with most of these, and with very encouraging results. To all of them I now take this opportunity of tendering my sincere thanks, in which I include not only those from whom I received contributions to this volume, but also those others who, while not feeling able to write anything themselves, yet sent me their good wishes for the undertaking.

Some readers may be puzzled, not to say pained, at the rather sharp contrasts presented by the various essays in this volume, ranging, as they do, from a distinctly critical attitude, in one or two cases, to what can only be described as almost adoration in others. This, to my mind, should only serve to stimulate interest in one who, whatever his limitations, was a unique product of his age, and, above all, a very gracious and courageous personality. Readers will be able to form their own estimate of him from the following pages, which is, I think, what he himself would have wished.

There may be some, especially among his friends in other countries, who were distressed at losing touch with him during the last few years. The explanation is that increasing old age and infirmity made correspondence an overwhelming effort for him, and finally quite impossible. From about the time of his eightieth birthday onwards his mind grew dimmer. In January 1928 the sudden death of his friend and housemate, George Merrill, proved a shock from which he never recovered, and doubtless brought on a paralytic stroke in May of the same year, which rendered him almost helpless. But he was to live for another thirteen months, lovingly tended and nursed by his faithful attendant, Edward Inigan, on whom he came to rely, like a child, for all his wants. A few old friends visited him from time to time, and were always sure of a smile of recognition and welcome, even when, as sometimes happened, he was incapable of sustained conversation. Finally, after three days of semi-unconsciousness, he passed over on the perfect summer afternoon of Friday, June 28, 1929calmly and without distress.

On his tombstone in Guildford Cemetery has been engraved a brave and hopeful message the closing words of an address which he had composed with a view to its being read at his funeral. Very unfortunately, the existence of this was not discovered until several days after his death. It is now printed for the first time at the end of this volume, and, although written as far back as 1910, it can be read as his farewell to all those who loved him and were inspired by his message.