Rupert Brooke

NAME Rupert Chawner Brooke

WHAT FAMOUS FOR Rupert Brooke is famous as an English poet known for his idealistic war sonnets written during the First World War, especially "The Soldier."

BIRTH Rupert Brooke was born on August 3, 1887, in Rugby, Warwickshire, England.

FAMILY BACKGROUND Rupert Brooke was the second of three sons born to William Parker Brooke, a schoolmaster at Rugby School, and Ruth Mary Brooke (née Cotterill). He had two brothers and a sister who died in infancy.

CHILDHOOD Brooke had a privileged upbringing in a supportive and intellectually stimulating environment, heavily influenced by his father’s academic career. He developed a love of poetry and the classics from a young age.

EDUCATION Brooke attended Rugby School, where his father taught, and won the school poetry prize in 1905. He later went on to King’s College, Cambridge, where he became a prominent figure in the intellectual and literary circles of the university.

CAREER RECORD Brooke’s career as a poet began to flourish while he was at Cambridge. He published his first collection, Poems, in 1911. He became part of the Georgian poets and was known for his striking good looks and charismatic personality. His later work focused on his experiences in the First World War.

APPEARANCE Brooke had a tall and athletic build with blue eyes and blond hair. He was noted for his strikingly handsome appearance, often described as the epitome of the young, idealistic poet. Brooks was described as "the handsomest young man in England" by W. B. Yeats.

Rupert Brooke by Arthur St. John Adcock

FASHION Brooke was known for his elegant and somewhat bohemian style, often seen in well-tailored suits and casual, yet stylish, attire.

CHARACTER Brooke was charismatic, charming, and idealistic with a strong sense of social justice and a rebellious streak. He was known for his wit and vibrant personality. Some biographers suggest a more complex personality with potential inner conflict.

SENSE OF HUMOUR He possessed a keen sense of humor, often playful and sometimes self-deprecating, which endeared him to many of his contemporaries.

RELATIONSHIPS Brooke had several romantic relationships, both with men and women. He was romantically linked to figures such as actress Cathleen Nesbitt and poet Phyllis Gardner, among others. Biographers debate the exact nature of his relationships due to the social constraints of the time.

MONEY AND FAME Brooke gained considerable fame for his poetry, especially his war sonnets. Financially, he was comfortable, supported by his family and his earnings as a writer.

FOOD AND DRINK Brooke enjoyed the social aspects of dining and was known to partake in the bohemian lifestyle, which included frequenting cafés and enjoying wine.

MUSIC AND ARTS Brooke had a deep appreciation for the arts and was friends with many artists and musicians. He enjoyed attending concerts and art exhibitions.

LITERATURE As a poet, Brooke was heavily involved in the literary world. He was influenced by the Romantic poets and was part of the Georgian poetry movement.

A dazzling comet streaking across the Edwardian sky, all charm, good looks, and poetic talent., Brookes burned bright and brief, snuffed out by the Great War just as his literary star was on the rise.

Brooke became a symbol of that lost generation, the idealistic young men cut down in their prime.  His fame really took off with a series of war sonnets published in 1915. "The Soldier" was the big one, a heart-thumping anthem of patriotism that wouldn't be out of place blaring from a gramophone record at a garden party.  A far cry from the disillusionment that later poets like Wilfred Owen would capture, but hey, it was 1915 and optimism was still clinging on by its fingernails. Tragically, Brooke wouldn't live to see that shift in mood.  The war claimed him that same year, leaving behind a legacy of unfulfilled potential and a nation in mourning

NATURE Brooke had a profound love for nature, often reflected in his poetry. He enjoyed spending time outdoors, particularly in the countryside.

HOBBIES AND SPORTS At Cambridge, Brooke helped found the Marlowe Society drama club and acted, including in the Cambridge Greek Play. 

Brooke enjoyed swimming and often swam in the River Cam during his time at Cambridge. He was also an avid traveler and enjoyed exploring new places.

He enjoyed sports like cricket and rugby, excelling in both at school

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY Brooke was interested in philosophy and often engaged in intellectual discussions about life, love, and the human condition. His writings sometimes reflect his philosophical contemplations.

Though not overtly religious, he may have questioned and explored spiritual themes.

SCANDAL Brooke’s personal life was marked by several romantic entanglements, which sometimes led to gossip and scandal, particularly within his literary circles.

MILITARY RECORD Brooke joined the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve as a temporary sub-lieutenant during the First World War. He participated in the Antwerp Expedition and later died while en route to Gallipoli.

Rupert Brooke as an officer in 1914

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS Brooke was generally healthy and physically active until his untimely death in 1915. His good looks and athletic build were often remarked upon.

HOMES Brooke lived in several places throughout his life, including Rugby, Cambridge, and Grantchester. He also spent time in various locations abroad, including Tahiti.

TRAVEL Brooke was a keen traveler. He traveled extensively across Europe and also visited North America, the South Seas, and other regions.

DEATH Rupert Brooke died on April 23, 1915 at the age of 27. He was serving as a sub-lieutenant with the Royal Naval Division during the First World War and was en route to the Gallipoli campaign. Brooke succumbed to septicaemia (blood poisoning) caused by an infected mosquito bite, having already been weakened by severe gastroenteritis contracted in Egypt. Despite two operations by French surgeons to drain the abscess, Brooke died at 4:46 pm aboard the French hospital ship Duguay-Trouin, anchored in Tris Boukes Bay off the Greek island of Skyros.

With the British expeditionary force scheduled to depart for Gallipoli the next morning, Brooke’s funeral had to be arranged quickly. His friends and fellow officers, including William Denis Browne, Bernard Freyberg, Charles Lister, and Patrick Shaw-Stewart, decided to bury him on Skyros rather than at sea, believing this would have been his wish.

The funeral party went ashore at 8:30 pm, and Brooke was buried at 11 pm in an olive grove in the valley north of Trebuki Bay—an area where he had recently enjoyed resting during field exercises. The ceremony was conducted by the chaplain in a setting described as one of “the loveliest places on this earth,” surrounded by olive trees, flowering sage, and the scents of the Greek spring. The grave was lined with flowers, and a wreath of olive was placed on the coffin. After a short service and the sounding of the Last Post by an 18-year-old bugler, the grave was covered with stones by his closest friends before they returned to their ship.

The original grave was a simple stone cairn with a wooden cross inscribed in Greek:

"Here lies the servant of God, Sub-lieutenant in the English Navy, who died for the deliverance of Constantinople from the Turks".

After the war, Brooke’s mother commissioned a more permanent tomb, designed by Greek sculptor Georgios Bonanos, to replace the original cairn. The new monument, intended to evoke both medieval and Greek influences, bears the text of Brooke’s most famous poem, "The Soldier". His grave remains in the olive grove on Skyros, which has become a site of literary and historical pilgrimage. The burial and the beauty of the setting have contributed to the legend surrounding Brooke’s life and death. (1)

Brooke’s death was widely mourned. Winston Churchill, then First Lord of the Admiralty, paid tribute to him in The Times, writing, “Rupert Brooke is dead. ... his life has closed at the moment when it seemed to have reached its springtime”. Annual commemorations continue to be held at his graveside, attended by dignitaries and admirers from Britain and Greece, underscoring the enduring impact of his poetry and sacrifice.

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA Rupert Brooke, while not appearing in person due to his passing in 1915, has a continuing presence in media through his works and their adaptations. 

Here are some examples:

Literature: Brooke's poems, particularly his war sonnets like "The Soldier," are still widely anthologized and studied in schools.

Film: Several films reference Brooke or his poetry. Oh! What a Lovely War (1969) is an anti-war satire that features a character reciting Brooke's "The Soldier."

Music: Several composers have set Brooke's poems to music, creating choral pieces or songs. Charles Ives, for instance, set to music a portion of Brooke's poem "The Old Vicarage, Grantchester" in his 114 Songs published in 1921.

ACHIEVEMENTS Brooke is remembered as one of the most talented poets of his generation. His war sonnets, including "The Soldier," continue to be celebrated for their poignant portrayal of the patriotic fervor and the tragedy of war.

Sources (1) Rupert Brooke on Skyros