Willam Ernest Henley, Circa 1890s
Scope and Contents
Five half leaves of paper containing what appears to be an early draft of a portion of “London Voluntaries” by English poet William Ernest Henley. The text, written in pencil and much-edited, corresponds to what would become the second part of the poem, “Andante Con Moto.” The draft is undated, but the volume containing the finished poem, also called London Voluntaries, was published in 1893.
Dates
- Circa 1890s
Conditions Governing Access
Most manuscripts collections at the Georgetown University Booth Family Center for Special Collections are open to researchers; however, restrictions may apply to some collections. Collections stored off site require a minimum of three days for retrieval. For use of all manuscripts collections, researchers are advised to contact the Booth Family Center for Special Collections in advance of any visit.
Biographical / Historical
William Ernest Henley was a British poet, editor, and critic most well known for his 1875 poem “Invictus.” He was a fixture in the London literary scene, friend to J.M. Barrie and Robert Lewis Stevenson, who may have based his Long John Silver character on Henley. His works include A Book of Verses (1888), London Voluntaries (1893), and Hawthorn and Lavender (1899).
Extent
From the Collection: 30 Cubic Feet (68 boxes)
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
From the Collection: Latin
From the Collection: French
From the Collection: Italian
From the Collection: Welsh
From the Collection: Danish
From the Collection: Swedish
From the Collection: Spanish
From the Collection: German
From the Collection: Norwegian
From the Collection: Persian
From the Collection: Japanese
From the Collection: Russian
From the Collection: Greek, Ancient (to 1453)
Creator
- From the Collection: Scheetz, Nicholas B., 1952-2016 (Person)
Repository Details
Part of the Georgetown University Manuscripts Repository
Lauinger Library, 5th Floor
37th and O Streets, N.W.
Washington DC 20057
speccoll@georgetown.edu