A. E. Housman

Date of Birth: March 26, 1859

Zodiac Sign: Aries

Date of Death: April 30, 1936

Biography

Alfred Edward Housman, commonly known as A. E. Housman, was an eminent English classical scholar and poet. Born on March 26, 1859, in Fockbury, Worcestershire, England, Housman grew up in a family of seven children. His early education took place at King Edward’s School in Birmingham, followed by studies at Bromsgrove School. He later attended St John’s College, Oxford, where he distinguished himself in classical studies but failed his final exams, a setback that led him to a career in the civil service. Despite this professional detour, Housman’s passion for classical literature remained undiminished, and he continued to study and write in his spare time. His first collection of poems, “A Shropshire Lad,” published in 1896, garnered critical acclaim and continues to be celebrated for its exploration of themes such as rural life, mortality, and unrequited love. Housman eventually returned to academia, becoming a professor of Latin at University College London and later at the University of Cambridge. His scholarly work, particularly on the Roman poet Manilius, solidified his reputation as one of the foremost classical scholars of his time. Housman remained a bachelor throughout his life and was known for his solitary and somewhat reclusive nature. He passed away on April 30, 1936, in Cambridge, England.

5 Interesting Facts about A. E. Housman

1. Housman failed his final exams at Oxford University, a setback that profoundly influenced his life and career.

2. His collection “A Shropshire Lad” was initially self-published in 1896 after being rejected by several publishers.

3. Housman was known for his meticulous and often harsh critiques of other scholars’ works.

4. He was a skilled translator and contributed significantly to the study of Latin poetry.

5. Despite his reclusive nature, Housman was an avid letter writer, and his correspondences provide valuable insights into his personality and thoughts.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from A. E. Housman

1. “To think that two and two are four / And neither five nor three / The heart of man has long been sore / And long ’tis like to be.”

2. “The house of delusions is cheap to build but drafty to live in.”

3. “The land of lost content / I see it shining plain / The happy highways where I went / And cannot come again.”

4. “Malt does more than Milton can / To justify God’s ways to man.”

5. “If a man will set himself to it, he can make a very grand thing of his life.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

A. E. Housman’s net worth was modest by contemporary standards, and there are no records indicating significant wealth accumulation. His value lies more in his literary and scholarly contributions than in financial terms.