Classic and Contemporary Poets

George Granville Barker (1913–1991) was an English poet and author known for his vivid and often visionary poetry. Barker is considered one of the more dynamic, if not tumultuous, figures in the mid-20th century British poetry scene. His works are characterized by a passionate intensity and a blend of romanticism with modernist complexities.

Literary Background and Early Influences

George Barker was born in Loughton, Essex, and was largely self-educated, having left school early. Despite his lack of formal higher education, Barker was voraciously intellectual and steeped in the poetic tradition. He was deeply influenced by the Romantic poets, as well as by the Metaphysical poets of the seventeenth century. His early work was noticed by T. S. Eliot, who became an advocate for Barker's poetry and helped him publish his first collection.

Poetic Schools or Movements

While Barker's early poetry showed the influence of the Romantics and the Metaphysical poets, he was often associated with the New Apocalyptics movement, which reacted against the politically oriented, sometimes spare poetry of the 1930s in favor of a return to myth and a lush, intricate style. However, Barker's work was too individualistic to fit comfortably within any movement or school; he was a modernist who also drew on the emotional intensity of the Romantics and the intellectual rigor of the Metaphysicals.

Poetic Oeuvre: Phases and Themes

Barker's poetic oeuvre can be divided into different phases. His early work, starting with "Thirty Preliminary Poems" followed by "Poems" (1935), displayed a marked intensity and a preoccupation with love, sex, and death. These themes continued to evolve in his work, where the lyricism of his language often contrasted starkly with the sometimes dark or violent subjects he explored.

His war-time poem "Eros in Dogma" (1944) marks a significant phase in his writing, combining sensual and spiritual love with religious imagery. In his later years, Barker's style became more meditative, though it continued to grapple with existential themes and the human condition.

Barker was also noted for his long poem, "The True Confession of George Barker," in which he employed a self-referential and confessional mode that anticipated some of the concerns of the "Movement" poets of the 1950s and the confessional poets of America.

Influence and Honors

Although Barker was never appointed to any formal honor such as the Poet Laureateship, and despite his reputation being somewhat eclipsed by other figures in the latter half of the 20th century, his work was respected by his peers and influenced a number of writers, both his contemporaries and the generations that followed.

Conclusion

George Barker's poetry represents a unique voice in 20th century English literature. His work is marked by an intense personal vision, an often complex interweaving of the sensual and the spiritual, and a deep engagement with the poetic tradition. While his style evolved over time, his central concerns with the extremes of human experience and the role of the poet as visionary remained consistent. Barker's life, as tumultuous and passionate as his verse, adds a further layer of intrigue to his poetic legacy, making him a compelling figure in the panorama of British poetry.

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