B. M. Goold Adams

Biography

Author of England and one of Ezra Pound’s lovers, B.M. Goold Adams (Gould-Adams), most commonly referred to as Bride Scratton, was a writer who drew from personal experiences to create short stories that “explore[...] the lives of people from different classes, and backgrounds living in England” (England). In Shoeburyness, Essex, on September 09, 1882, Evelyn St. Bride Mary Goold-Adams was born the only daughter of Evelyn Wynne and Captain Francis Michael Goold-Adams, the Assistant Superintendent of Experiments at the Royal Army's Gunnery School in Shoeburyness, Essex (SNAC). In 1885, Captain Goold-Adams was killed when a shell exploded prematurely which led to Evelyn Wynn’s remarriage and move to London with Bride (SNAC).

After completing finishing school in Fontainebleau, Bride met Edward "Ned" Blackburn Scratton during one of her many visits to Tulloch Lodge. On May 04, 1905 they were married at St. Peter's Kensington. The couple had four children together, the first daughter being diagnosed with a mental disability and sent away at a young age. During World War I, they moved from Edward’s inherited estate Prittlewell Priory, Essex, to York, where Bride volunteered in a military hospital and Ned served in the 1st Devon Yeomanry. In 1917, after the war, the Scratton family moved to Oxford. In Oxford, Bride was befriended by Mrs. Victor Rickard, who would later introduce her to Ezra Pound. Owing to Bride and Ned's marriage deteriorating over the next few years, by 1921, the couple had separated, and in October 1923, they finalized their divorce (SNAC).

During Bride and Ned’s separation, Bride travelled to Paris (1921-1922) and Italy (1923), where Ezra Pound was living at the time. At the time of their divorce, Ned accused Bride of having an affair with Pound, winning Ned the custody of their children (SNAC). During this time, Bride also worked multiple jobs and wrote most of her short stories. In 1923, England--a collection of fictional short stories containing “The Obsequies”--was published by the Three Mountains Press (England). “The Obsequies” also appeared in the April 1923 The Criterion: A Quarterly Review. Most of the information from this period is found in the Bride Scratton papers, which includes Bride’s short stories, love notes to Pound, and divorce papers (Scratton).

After Ned’s death due to tuberculosis in May 1926, Bride received custody of her children and moved to Cambridge in 1929. She was a registered travel guide, participated in amateur theatricals, and worked to prevent animal cruelty (SNAC). She stayed in touch with Pound, but there is little information telling if their relationship was anything more than that. On May 06, 1964, Bride Scratton died of cancer in Cambridge.