Louis Golding

Biography

Louis Golding was born in Manchester, England on November 19, 1895, just a year or two after his family immigrated there from Ukraine. His parents, Philip and Yetta Golding, were Orthodox Jews, and Philip was a religious orator and teacher (Baker). Louis had a bright childhood: he wrote his first “novel,” “The Advanchers of Three on Bludy Island,” at the age of six, and was disappointed when it was rejected by publishers. He won a scholarship to Manchester grammar school, where he was awarded for his poetry, and then later went on to attended Oxford College (Kunitz). He tried to enlist at the outbreak of World War I, but was rejected because of his health, and so instead, he worked at a hospital in Greece. He spent his life traveling the world, visiting places such as Italy, Palestine, Morocco, Israel, and the United States. He was privately homosexual, but married his childhood friend Annie Carrie Weintrobe in 1956, a mere two years before he died of pancreatic carcinoma (Baker).

Golding was extremely prolific as a writer and published over forty books, including novels, books of poetry and essays, accounts of his travels, and nonfiction (Baker). Golding was influenced by his experiences working in the hospital during World War I, and he also cited Poe and Tennyson as influencers of his poetry. Undoubtedly, the most influential aspect of his life that became the most common theme in his writing was his Jewish descent (Kunitz). Many of his most popular novels focused on Anglo-Jews and the relationship between Jews and gentiles, and Golding vehemently spoke out against anti-Semitism throughout his life, especially as World War II unfolded. His writing did include other subjects, but he is most remembered for being “an ardent champion of the Jewish people” (Kunitz). His short story entitled “Lady Ursula,” which was published in Voices in Poetry and Prose in 1919, is among those of Golding’s works that do not focus on the theme of Anglo-Judaism. This story of an adored socialite-turned-mother who is haunted by her fallen status, leading to some disturbing actions, may reflect a little of Poe’s influence on Golding’s work, as it features a horrifying madness in its protagonist that is familiar to any reader of Poe’s. “Lady Ursula” is similar to many of Golding’s other works in that it also emphasizes the importance of societal roles. Given Golding’s experience as a racial minority in English society and the disturbing tone of the story, “Lady Ursula” can be taken as a cautionary tale against becoming obsessed with becoming popular and worrying too much what society thinks of you.