Harold Monro
Harold Munro was a Belgian-born British poet and editor, known for his contributions to the literary landscape of the early 20th century. Born on March 14, 1879, in St. Gilles, Belgium, he moved to London at the age of seven. His early education was marked by rebellion, leading to his expulsion from Radley College. Munro began exploring poetry during his teenage years and later pursued higher education at Cambridge. He published his first collection, "Poems," in 1906 and co-founded Samurai Press, focusing on progressive social themes.
In 1913, he established the Poetry Bookshop in Bloomsbury, which became a vital hub for poets and literary activities. Despite some editorial setbacks, including his refusal to publish T.S. Eliot's famous poem "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock," Munro played a significant role in promoting poetry and supporting struggling writers. His later works, including the anthology "Twentieth Century Poetry," reflect a shift in his perspectives, as he balanced idealism with the realities of the world. Munro passed away on March 16, 1932, leaving behind a legacy that emphasized accessibility and community in poetry.
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Harold Monro
Poet
- Born: March 14, 1879
- Birthplace: St. Gilles (near Brussels), Belgium
- Died: March 16, 1932
Biography
Harold Munro was born to British parents on March 14, 1879, in St. Gilles, Belgium, near Brussels. His father, Edward William Munro, was an engineer. His mother was Arabella Sophia Margary Monro. His family moved to London when he was seven. At the age of sixteen, he was expelled from Radley College for bringing wine into his room. At the same time, he began reading the Romantic poets. In 1901, he attended Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge. In 1903, he married Dorothy Elizabeth Brown, with whom he had a son.
Munro’s first collection of poetry, Poems, was published in 1906. He cofounded Samurai Press in 1907, which served as a forum for progressive social ideas. An idealist, he drifted in Europe from 1909 to 1911, searching for a utopian existence, a journey partially recorded in The Chronicle of a Pilgrimage: Paris to Milan on Foot, published in 1909. In 1911, he began editing Poetry Review, and in 1913, he edited Poetry and Drama, although his work as an editor proved unremarkable, as exhibited by his refusal to publish T. S. Eliot’s “Lovesong of J. Alfred Prufrock.”
Munro’s most notable endeavor was founding, in 1913, the Poetry Bookshop in Bloomsbury. The Bookshop supported numerous literary activities, serving as a publishing house, a meeting place, and a location for readings. In addition, it sometimes housed writers with financial problems. Poetry Bookshop published three collection of Munro’s poetry, but did not promote a particular type of poetry; it welcomed all poets.
From 1919 to 1925, Munro edited Chapbook. Having divorced his first wife in 1916, Munro married Alida Klemantaski in 1920. He edited Twentieth Century Poetry: An Anthology Chosen by Harold Munro, published in 1929. Towards the end of his life, he lost some of his sense of idealism and became more acclimated to the world. “Bitter Sanctuary,” considered his best poem by T. S. Eliot and Ezra Pound, was published in Criterion six months prior to his death. He died March 16, 1932. The Collected Poems of Harold Munro, edited by Alida Munro, was published in 1933.
As the founder of The Bookshop, Harold Munro is most recognized for his cultivation of an audience for poetry and his dedication to the needs of the common reader.