Theo Marzials
Theo Marzials was a British poet and songwriter born into a literary family, with notable relatives including his mother, an editor of poetry, and his siblings, who also pursued literary careers. He published his first poem, "Passionate Dowsabella: A Pastoral," at the age of 22, which led to the release of his poetry collection "The Gallery of Pigeons, and Other Poems" in 1873. Despite initial interest, Marzials' literary career did not flourish as he hoped, and he took a position at the British Museum as a junior assistant, where he interacted with prominent literary figures, including Edmund Gosse.
His career shifted focus towards writing popular songs, which eventually allowed him to leave his museum job after twelve years. However, Marzials faced challenges, including rumors of drug addiction and mental health struggles, leading to his retreat from the public eye. Although he made a brief appearance in the 1890 edition of the "Yellow Book," he largely faded from prominence in the last thirty years of his life. Today, Marzials is recognized as a minor figure within the context of nineteenth-century aestheticism, drawing attention for his contributions to the period despite his struggles.
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Theo Marzials
Poet
- Born: December 20, 1850
- Birthplace: London, England
- Died: February 2, 1920
Biography
Theo Marzials came from a literary family: His mother, Mary Ann Jackson, edited a poetry collection; his sister, Elizabeth- Marianne, was a published poet; and his brother Francois-Thomas was a prolific and successful author. Marzials apparently had literary ambitions from an early age, although he received little encouragement from friends or family.
In 1872, at the age of twenty-two, he published his first poem, Passionate Dowsabella: A Pastoral, which received enough attention that the entire collection of Marzials’s work, The Gallery of Pigeons, and Other Poems (1873), appeared in print the following year. The collection garnered mixed reviews and was the last poetry collection Marzials would publish.
Unable to support himself from writing alone, in 1870 Marzials took a job at the British Museum as a junior assistant in the librarian’s office. In that position he met a number of literary lights, the most important of which was Edmund Gosse, with whom Marzials allegedly had an intimate relationship. Throughout his tenure at the museum, Marzials continued to write, concentrating on composing popular songs.
Ultimately, he became successful enough to quit his day job after twelve years. Thereafter he found himself in great demand as a singer of his own songs, but dogged by rumors of drug addiction and mental instability—and above all, by his own sense of unworthiness—he retired from the scene. With the exception of an appearance in the 1890 edition of the famous Yellow Book, he all but disappeared for the last thirty years of his life. Although a decidedly minor literary figure, Marzials continues to receive critical attention as an example of nineteenth-century aestheticism.