John Ferrar Holms facts for kids

John Ferrar Holms (1897–1934) was a British writer and literary critic. He was also a brave soldier during World War I, earning a special award called the Military Cross.

John Holms's Early Life and War Service

John Ferrar Holms was born in India in 1897. His father worked for the British government, and his mother was from Ireland. John went to school at Rugby School and then to Sandhurst. Sandhurst is a famous military academy in the United Kingdom.

During World War I, John joined the army in 1915. He became a second lieutenant in the Highland Light Infantry. This was a Scottish army regiment. In 1917, he received the Military Cross. This award is given for bravery in battle.

In March 1918, John Holms was captured by enemy forces. He became a prisoner of war. He was held at Mainz Citadel in Germany. Other famous people were also prisoners there, including Hugh Kingsmill and Alec Waugh.

John Holms's Writing Career

After the war, John Holms became a literary critic. This means he wrote reviews and essays about books and other writings. He published his work in a magazine called Calendar of Modern Letters from 1925 to 1927. He also wrote one short story titled "A Death."

John Holms was friends with many important writers and artists of his time. These included Djuna Barnes, Edwin Muir, Emily Coleman, Antonia White, and Peggy Guggenheim.

Djuna Barnes was a famous American writer. She dedicated her well-known novel Nightwood to John Holms and Peggy Guggenheim. This shows how important he was to her. In 1932 and 1933, John spent time at Hayford Hall in Devon, England. He was there with Djuna Barnes and Emily Coleman. This time together greatly influenced Barnes's writing, especially her novel Nightwood. John Holms passed away suddenly in 1934.