{\b William Ernest Henley}.

{\b Date of Birth}.: August 23 1849

{\b Date of Death}.: June 11 1903

{\b Works}.

English poet, playwright, critic and editor. His first major poetical work, A 
Book of Verses (1888), was written whilst in the Edinburgh Infirmary. He 
followed this with a number of volumes which estalished his  reputation as an 
eccentric poet who used unusual words and rhymes. These included The Song of 
the Sword (1892), For England's Sake (1900) and In Hospital (1903).

{\b Featured Works}.

'Invictus', "Fill a Glass With Golden Wine", 'English, My England', 'On the 
Way to Kew', 'In Hospital Before', 'In Hospital After', 'In Hospital Staff 
Nurse: Old Style', 'In Hospital Staff Nurse: New Style'.

He edited the Magazine of Art (1881-86) and the New Review (1895-98), as well 
as helping compile a dictionary of slang (1894-04).

He also wrote four unsuccessful plays with Robert Louis Stevenson: Deacon 
Brodie (1818), Beau Austin (1884), Admiral Guinea (1884) and Macaire (1885). 

{\b General Comment}.

William Ernest Henley was born in Gloucester, the son of a bookseller. His 
youth was blighted by a tuberculous disease which forced doctors to amputate 
his foot. Whilst in hospital in Edinburgh in 1873, under the care of Dr 
Lister, he began to write his first poems. His series of  Hospital Sketches 
appeared in the highly respected literary periodical Cornhill (1875). They 
vividly described his sufferings and were praised for their honesty and courage.

His early poetic efforts were noticed by R.L. Stevenson who became a great 
friend. Stevenson is believed to have used the 'piratic' Henley as a model for 
Long John Silver in his book 'Treasure Island'. The two men collaborated on 
four plays none of which were particularly successful.

Henley's reputation as a poet grew steadily with the publication of more 
volumes of poetry, especially in America where his work has been very well 
received.

A flamboyant and boisterous personality, he was to influence many 
twentieth-century writers. He was a staunch Tory and a believer in the 
importance of 'realism'. His later works are criticised for suffering from an 
over-abundance of  patriotic fervour.