Henley, William Ernest, 1849-1903

William Ernest Henley was born in Gloucester, and sufferred from a painful condition in his joints; his left leg was amputated when he was eighteen, and the right leg was saved only through experimental treatments of carbolic acid. He was accepted to Oxford, but couldn't afford to attend, and he tried to earn a living as an author, writing poetry and drama with some success. As a poet, he is remembered for his experiments with blank verse; he also wrote countless magazine articles and essays. His main contribution to literature was as an editor and critic; he edited no fewer than six prestigious journals, encouraging authors by printing their works and writing influential reviews. He aided the careers and reputations of writers as diverse as Thomas Hardy, H.G. Wells, Rudyard Kipling, William Butler Yeats, Henry James, and J.M. Barrie.

From the description of William Ernest Henley letters and related materials, 1886-1902. (Pennsylvania State University Libraries). WorldCat record id: 70082111

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