Martin Armstrong
Martin Armstrong was an influential English writer born in 1882, known for his contributions to poetry, fiction, and essays during the early twentieth century. Initially successful as a poet with works like "Exodus, and Other Poems" (1912), he shifted focus to fiction, exploring themes reflective of British values such as duty, honor, and a deep appreciation for nature. His experiences as a soldier in World War I shaped his literary voice, leading to the publication of poetry collections and essays in prominent periodicals like "The Spectator." Armstrong's novels often critiqued societal issues such as class snobbery and materialism, with notable works including "Adrian Glynde" (1930) and his acclaimed novel "The Romantic Adventures of Mr. Darby and of Sarah His Wife" (1931). In his later career, he ventured into children's literature, producing two successful books that garnered significant commercial success. Armstrong maintained a notable friendship with American poet Conrad Aiken, although their relationship faced challenges due to personal circumstances. He continued to write until his death in 1974, leaving behind a diverse literary legacy.
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Martin Armstrong
Writer
- Born: October 2, 1882
- Birthplace: Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England
- Died: February 24, 1974
- Place of death: Near Pullborough, Sussex, England
Biography
Although hardly known today, Martin Armstrong was one of the most beloved and prolific English writers of the early twentieth century. Born in 1882 into an upper-middle-class family, Armstrong first tried his hand at poetry, and, though successful with such works as Exodus, and Other Poems (1912), he would soon turn to fiction, writing about the society into which he was born. His themes in poetry, essays, and novels represent common British values, such as a love of nature, the country, and the traditions of his homeland with its respect for duty, honor, and justice.
At the outbreak of World War I, Armstrong enlisted, was soon commissioned, and served at the French front. Following the war he published two more volumes of poetry, Thirty New Poems (1918), and The Buzzards, and Other Poems (1921). He then began writing essays, publishing his work in the London Mercury, The Bookman, and, one of the most famous of British periodicals, The Spectator, where he served as associate editor from 1922 to 1924. His first novel appeared one year later, The Goat and Compasses, which draws upon those upper-middle-class values he so admired and contains characters exhibiting the snobbery and greed that Armstrong found offensive. Several more novels followed, prolifically written each year, until Adrian Glynde was published in 1930. Adrian Glynde demonstrated a compilation of his mature craft, including deft characterization, the thematic concerns of British culture and class (complete with a condemnatory view of class snobbery), excellent descriptions of the English countryside, and appreciation for the value of painting, music, and other arts. Adrian Glynde was published as Blind Man’s Mark in the United States in 1931.
Armstrong’s masterpiece was The Romantic Adventures of Mr. Darby and of Sarah His Wife (1931). The novel featured a great deal of autobiographical material, complete with the usual criticism of materialism, greed, and snobbery, but concluded with its characters remorse for the pretenses of “class value.” In 1945 Armstrong turned to children’s literature, writing Said the Cat to the Dog, and in 1948 its sequel, Said the Dog to the Cat. The two children’s books are believed to have earned him more money than any of his work. In his later years Armstrong wrote radio scripts and opinion pieces for the British Broadcasting Corporation until his death in 1974.
Armstrong met the American poet Conrad Aiken in 1911, a relationship that proved advantageous to both through friendship and mutual respect for, and promotion of, each other’s work. The friendship briefly dissolved when Armstrong married Aiken’s former wife, Jessie McDonald, in 1930, four years after Aiken abandoned her. Aiken bitterly attacked Armstrong in letters, but he later sought reconciliation with his former friend.