Lewis 2

PERCY WYNDHAM LEWIS (1882 - 1957)

As a painter, the stature of Wyndham Lewis (he hated Percy) seems secure. As to his literary reputation, he has been called the greatest English-language writer of the century. Anyone who has read the novels of this extraordinary man will easily see why such a view might be taken - and also why it is not the general opinion.

In the summer of 1914, Lewis stayed with the Turners at a house in Berwickshire where E.M. Forster had stayed earlier. Ford Madox Ford and Violet Hunt (qq.v.) were guests and there was much discussion about whether a Liberal government would declare war: Ford was darkly certain that it would. Lewis's autobiography Blasting and Bombardiering contrasts this talk of war, and the headlines in the London newspaper with the peace of the Scottish countryside. There posters for the MORPETH OLYMPIAD symbolise local concerns. Lewis appears to think Morpeth is in Scotland. The event referred to was actually the Morpeth Olympic Games, held between 1870 and 1958 at various venues in the town; one such is commemorated by Olympia Gardens. These games were usually celebrated around the August Bank Holiday, as they were in 1914, before being suspended for the duration of the war.

Travelling south to London, Lewis recalls his train halting on a bridge in Newcastle, where a large gentleman with bellicose designs on 'the Kayser' got into his carriage and impressed Lewis unfavourably. Fortunately for local sensibilities, Lewis has him speaking in cockney. Newcastle itself had appeared as one of the ports to be 'blessed' in Lewis's invigorating magazine Blast.

Myers Literary Guide	Centre for Northern Studies
PERCY WYNDHAM LEWIS (1882 - 1957) As a painter, the stature of Wyndham Lewis (he hated Percy) seems secure. As to his literary reputation, he has been called the greatest English-language writer of the century. Anyone who has read the novels of this extraordinary man will easily see why such a view might be taken - and also why it is not the general opinion. In the summer of 1914, Lewis stayed with the Turners at a house in Berwickshire where E.M. Forster had stayed earlier. Ford Madox Ford and Violet Hunt (qq.v.) were guests and there was much discussion about whether a Liberal government would declare war: Ford was darkly certain that it would. Lewis's autobiography Blasting and Bombardiering contrasts this talk of war, and the headlines in the London newspaper with the peace of the Scottish countryside. There posters for the MORPETH OLYMPIAD symbolise local concerns. Lewis appears to think Morpeth is in Scotland. The event referred to was actually the Morpeth Olympic Games, held between 1870 and 1958 at various venues in the town; one such is commemorated by Olympia Gardens. These games were usually celebrated around the August Bank Holiday, as they were in 1914, before being suspended for the duration of the war. Travelling south to London, Lewis recalls his train halting on a bridge in Newcastle, where a large gentleman with bellicose designs on 'the Kayser' got into his carriage and impressed Lewis unfavourably. Fortunately for local sensibilities, Lewis has him speaking in cockney. Newcastle itself had appeared as one of the ports to be 'blessed' in Lewis's invigorating magazine Blast.
Return to Index	On to next Author