Post-War Man of Letters
Following demobilization, Aldington quickly reestablished himself in literary London, writing reviews and essays, launching The Poets’ Translation Series, Second Set and reissuing an expanded edition of Images 1910–1915 (Images, Egoist Press, 1919). In the U.S., his War and Love (Four Seas Company), which included both Images and Images of War, appeared in the same year. Most significantly, as a result of a referral by Sir John Ellerman, Bryher’s father, Aldington became lead reviewer of French Books for The Times Literary Supplement (TLS), a position he would hold until 1929.
The next nine years were a period of intense literary activity for Aldington. His goal was to become the recognized expert in Great Britain on French literature, and reviewing for the TLS was his mainstay.
The mid-1930s were a period of turmoil for Aldington. For reasons that remain unclear, Aldington replaced Chatto & Windus as his British publisher with Heinemann, and he replaced Brigit with her daughter-in-law, Netta, who was 20 years younger than Aldington. Michael Patmore, Netta’s then-husband, sued for divorce and won damages from Aldington, which would put Aldington under severe financial strain for the remainder of his life, and ultimately prevent him from returning to England. Aldington himself received a divorce from H.D. and, in 1938, he married Netta. Their daughter, Catherine, was born 11 days later. Soon thereafter, the Aldingtons made their first visit to the U.S., renting a house in Old Lyme, CT.
David Wilkinson
The Death of a Hero; The Quest for First World War Poet Richard Aldington’s Berkshire Retreat
London, Pen & Sword, 2016
The cover shows Malthouse Cottage in Padsworth, Berkshire, and a colorized photograph of Aldington in c. 1928, around the time of the publication of Death of a Hero. Aldington rented Malthouse Cottage from 1920-1929, and lived there with Dorothy (“Arabella”) Yorke until 1928. The cottage was owned by Brigadier-General Mills of Bridge House, Padworth, upon whom the character of Lieutenant-Colonel Frederick Smithers in Aldington’s The Colonel’s Daughter was based. The late David Wilkinson subsequently owned the cottage and became a leading collector of Aldington.
Photographer likely Glenn or Babette Hughes
Aldington at Padworth
Photograph
Padworth, Berkshire, 1925
Photograph taken during the Hughes’ visit to Padworth in 1925. Glenn Hughes wrote an early study of the Imagists (Imagism and the Imagists: A Study of Modern Poetry, Stanford University Press, Stanford CA, 1931).
Literary Studies and Reviews
Richard Aldington
New York, Lincoln Mac Veagh/ Dial Press, 1924
This volume contains reviews from a number of publications, including The Times Literary Supplement, for which Aldington had been acting as reviewer of French books since 1919. The blurb on the front cover provides a good summary of Aldington’s literary position at the time.
D.H. Lawrence
Letter to Richard Aldington
Manuscript, Hampstead, London, 1926
Lawrence invites Aldington and Dorothy Yorke to visit the Lawrences at the Villa Merenda just outside Florence. Aldington had known Lawrence since being introduced by Amy Lowell in 1914, and he would write extensively on Lawrence throughout his life.
Richard Aldington
Hark The Herald
Paris, The Hours Press, 1928
This was the first publication printed by Nancy Cunard at her Hours Press. It was printed as a gift to Aldington and was intended as a Christmas card. In his autobiography, Life for Life’s Sake, Aldington notes that “it got rid of a lot of rather tiresome acquaintances.” Limited to 100 signed copies on Vergé de Rives paper.
Howard Coster
Richard Aldington
London, 1930
© National Portrait Gallery, and exhibited with permission.
This photograph was taken following the publication of Aldington’s first novel, Death of a Hero. Howard Coster (1885-1959), who advertised himself as a” Photographer of Men” (as stamped on rear of this photograph) was a leading British photographer.
