Richard Aldington

Date of Birth: July 8, 1892

Zodiac Sign: Cancer

Date of Death: July 27, 1962

Biography

Richard Aldington, born Edward Godfree Aldington, was an influential English writer and poet, best known for his involvement with the Imagist movement, his poignant war poetry, and his comprehensive biographies. He was born on July 8, 1892, in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England. Aldington’s literary career commenced with his connection to the Imagist movement, where he worked alongside prominent figures like Ezra Pound and Hilda Doolittle (H.D.), whom he later married. His poetry often reflected a stark realism and a deep connection to classical literature. Aldington’s experiences during World War I, where he served as an officer, deeply impacted his literary work. His most famous novel, “Death of a Hero” (1929), is a semi-autobiographical account of the war and its devastating effects on a generation of young men. The novel is celebrated for its unflinching portrayal of the futility and horrors of war. In addition to his poetry and novels, Aldington was a prolific biographer. His biographies of figures like D.H. Lawrence and T.E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) were well-received, though sometimes controversial. Aldington’s critical biography of T.E. Lawrence, “Lawrence of Arabia: A Biographical Enquiry” (1955), sparked significant debate due to its critical stance. Aldington spent his later years in France, where he continued to write until his death on July 27, 1962, in Sury-en-Vaux, Cher, France. His legacy endures through his contributions to modernist literature and his uncompromising examination of war and its consequences.

5 Interesting Facts about Richard Aldington

1. Richard Aldington was a key member of the Imagist movement, a precursor to modernist poetry, which emphasized clarity, precision, and economy of language.

2. He served as a second lieutenant in the Royal Sussex Regiment during World War I, experiencing the Battle of the Somme and other significant conflicts.

3. His novel “Death of a Hero” is considered one of the finest novels about World War I, providing a raw and critical perspective of the war’s impact.

4. Aldington’s marriage to poet Hilda Doolittle (H.D.) in 1913 was central to his early literary career, though they separated during the war and eventually divorced.

5. Despite his literary success, Aldington faced financial difficulties throughout his life, often relying on biographies and translations to support himself.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Richard Aldington

1. “The life of a man is a long march through the night, surrounded by invisible foes, tortured by weariness and pain, towards a goal that few can hope to reach, and where none may tarry long.”

2. “We were all in it together, and all of us were destroyed by it.”

3. “The war had made a man of me, and it had destroyed me.”

4. “The great tragedy of life is not that men perish, but that they cease to love.”

5. “Writing is a form of therapy; sometimes I wonder how all those, who do not write, compose or paint can manage to escape the madness, melancholia, the panic fear which is inherent in a human condition.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Richard Aldington’s highest net worth was modest, as his financial situation was often precarious. He primarily earned his livelihood through writing and translating, yet never amassed significant wealth.