Shores of Paradise: The life of Sir John Squire, the Last Man of Letters Hardcover – 28 Sept. 2021

In his book "The Prose Factory", DJ Taylor devotes several memorable pages to a brief summary of the work of JC Squire, the most influential man of letters of the post World War I period. When I heard that a full new biography was available, I immediately bought it. This biography is a joy to read from beginning to end. There is never a sense that the life becomes boring, or that the biographer has tired of the subject. JC "Jack" Squire was, like so many Victorians, a person of stupendous and wide-ranging energy - to describe him as a man of letters is to restrict his significance unfairly. He was a brilliant editor of the London Mercury and a tireless reviewer: also a loyal friend to everyone he knew, and an energetic promoter of new talent. Often unfairly pilloried as a relic of the brief "Georgian" period in English poetry, he sampled and considered every new twist and turn in literary taste. He also kept up a punishing other life as a campaigner for the listing of buildings, for the preservation of Stonehenge, etc etc. The book is clearly a labour of love and John Smart takes us inside Jack's sociable, complex and precarious life. Jack wanted above all to be remembered as a poet, and one of the great merits of this biography is that it really showcases the poetry, both for its inherent beauty and the biographical light it sheds. The book is handsomely produced and readable and the notes and index are excellent. I'm trying hard to think of friends who would like this book, as I would like to thank the author by buying more copies!

Sir John Squire's is a life well worth knowing about and I can't think of a better source or informant than John Smart. This is a skilfully-written page turner (how does that sound for a conundrum?) about a surprisingly significant and interesting figure in literary history. Why surprising? Well, I'd never given Squire any thought and my adult life and work has been modestly literary, so when I started reading abut him I was surprised that he hadn't previously come under my radar. This is an entirely enjoyable, meticulously researched literary biography: it's a rewarding read and most highly recommended.