Record Number: 32953
Reading Experience:
Evidence:
�We are on a long march and I�m writing this on the chance of getting it off; so you should know I received your papers and also your letter � The Poetry Review you sent is good�the articles are too breathless, and want more packing, I think. The poems by the soldier are vigorous but, I feel a bit commonplace. I did not like Rupert Brooke�s begloried sonnets for the same reason. What I mean is second hand phrases �lambent fires� etc takes from its reality and strength. It should be approached in a colder way, more abstract, with less of the million feelings everybody feels � Walt Whitman in �Beat, drums, beat�, has said the noblest thing on war.�
Century:1900-1945
Date:Between 1 Jun 1916 and 30 Jun 1916
Country:France
Timen/a
Place:city
county: Somme
other location: trenches
(Reader):
silent aloud unknown
solitary in company unknown
single serial unknown
(Listener):
solitary in company unknown
single serial unknown
Reader / Listener / Reading Group:
Reader: Age:Adult (18-100+)
Gender:Male
Date of Birth:25 Nov 1890
Socio-Economic Group:Clerk / tradesman / artisan / smallholder
Occupation:Private, 12th Suffolk Regiment
Religion:Jewish
Country of Origin:England
Country of Experience:France
Listeners present if any:e.g family, servants, friends
n/a
Additional Comments:
n/a
Text Being Read:
Author: Title:Poetry Review
Genre:Essays / Criticism, Poetry
Form of Text:Print: Serial / periodical
Publication Details1916
Provenanceowned
Source Information:
Record ID:32953
Source:Isaac Rosenberg
Editor:Ian Parsons
Title:The Collected Works of Isaac Rosenberg: Poetry, Prose, Letters, Paintings and Drawings
Place of Publication:London
Date of Publication:1984
Vol:n/a
Page:237
Additional Comments:
Letter to Mrs Cohen, c. June 1916, trenches in Somme area
Citation:
Isaac Rosenberg, Ian Parsons (ed.), The Collected Works of Isaac Rosenberg: Poetry, Prose, Letters, Paintings and Drawings, (London, 1984), p. 237, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=32953, accessed: 04 February 2026
Additional Comments:
The date range is speculative. I have not been able to identify the specific issue of Poetry Review as those for 1916 are not available on-line.
