Thomas Sturge Moore

Who was Thomas Sturge Moore?

Thomas Sturge Moore was an English poet, author and artist. He was born at 3 Wellington Square, Hastings, East Sussex, on 4 March 1870 and was educated at Dulwich College, the Croydon Art School and Lambeth Art School. He was a long-term friend and correspondent of W. B. Yeats, who was to describe him as "one of the most exquisite poets writing in England". He was also a playwright, writing a Medea influenced by Yeats' drama and the Japanese Noh style.As a wood-engraver and artist he designed the covers for the poetry of Yeats and others.

Sturge Moore was a prolific poet and his subjects included, morality, art and the spirit writing in a 'severely classical tone' according to poet/critic Yvor Winters. His first pamphlet, Two Poems, was printed privately in 1893 and his first book of verse, The Vinedresser, was published in 1899. His love for poetry led him to become an active member of the Poetry Recital Society. His first plays to be produced was Aphrodite against Artemis, staged by the Literary Theatre Club of which he became a member in 1908.