Thomas Sturge Moore

Biography

W.B. Yeats once described his friend Thomas Sturge Moore as "one of the most exquisite poets writing in England.” Moore was born in East Sussex on March 4, 1870. He came from a highly artistic family: his brother George Edward Moore was a philosopher, his nephew Nicholas Moore an Apocalyptic poet, and another nephew, Timothy Moore was a composer. Even his wife, Marie Appia came from a creative family (her sister was a stage designer). Together, they had two children: Daniel and Henriette who followed their artistic footsteps and became a journalist-broadcaster and a theater designer, teacher and interior decorator.

From his early days as a student at Croydon Art School and Lambeth Art School he became involved with the Vale Press which threw him into the influence of many literary circles such as the Poetry Recital Society.  Not only did he contribute his own pieces for publication, Moore also translated and edited many other literary works before they were published. Many writers and publishers of the time were admirers of his work and sought his help and expertise. Moore was an illustrator, a critic and even a “book designer,” and he was a member of an engraving and lithography group called the Society of Twelve— he even designed books for W. B. Yeats. He and Yeats were lifelong correspondents and friends often collaborating on pieces.

Moore was first and foremost a poet and playwright, once even being a candidate for poet laureate, and he was given an official annual salary for his contributions to literature. Thomas Sturge Moore was heavily influenced by classical literature; many of his works were thick with references to Greek and Roman figures. His works bring into discussion deep questions of morality and philosophy, perhaps thanks to his many literary friends and philosophical brother.  Moore suffered from poor heart health for the most part of his later life and died from kidney failure on July 18, 1944