Walter Herries Pollock facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Walter Herries Pollock
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Caricature by "Spy"
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| Born | 21 February 1850 London, England, U.K. |
| Died | 21 February 1926 (aged 76) |
| Occupation | Writer, lecturer, poet, journalist |
| Nationality | British |
| Genre | Fiction, poetry, non-fiction, essay, literary criticism |
| Spouse | Emma Jane Pipon (1876–1922) |
| Children | Guy Cameron Pollock |
Walter Herries Pollock (born February 21, 1850 – died February 21, 1926) was an English writer, poet, and journalist. He is most famous for being the editor of the Saturday Review magazine from 1884 to 1894. He also wrote many different kinds of books, including novels, short stories, plays, and poems. Besides his writing, he was known as one of the best amateur fencers in Great Britain.
Pollock was a well-known person in Britain's writing world during the Victorian era. He was good friends with many famous writers. These friends included Robert Louis Stevenson, Rudyard Kipling, and Oscar Wilde. He also worked with other writers like Andrew Lang and Sir Walter Besant.
Walter Pollock was part of the important Pollock family. His father was Sir William Frederick Pollock, 2nd Baronet. His brother, Sir Frederick Pollock, 3rd Baronet, was a famous lawyer. Walter's son, Guy Cameron Pollock, also became a journalist. Walter and Guy even wrote a novel together in 1905.
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Walter Pollock's Early Life and Education
Walter Pollock was born in London on February 21, 1850. His family had a long history of important people. His great-grandfather was a saddler (someone who makes saddles) for King George III. His grandfather, Sir Frederick Pollock, 1st Baronet, was a very important judge. Other family members were also judges or high-ranking military officers.
Walter's own father was an author and held a special job for Queen Victoria. His older brother, Frederick, was a well-known lawyer. Walter often worked with him later in his life.
Walter went to Eton, a famous school, and then to Trinity College, Cambridge university. He studied classical subjects like ancient Greek and Latin. He finished university in 1871. Three years later, he became a lawyer, but he chose to focus on writing instead.
Walter Pollock's Writing Career
Walter Pollock loved literature and history. He started giving talks at the Royal Institution, London. He spoke about famous people like Cardinal Richelieu, Victor Hugo, and Sir Francis Drake.
In 1875, he started working for the Saturday Review magazine. He became an assistant editor there. Around this time, he met Emma Jane Pipon, and they got married in 1876. Their only son, Guy Cameron Pollock, was born that same year.
Becoming an Author and Editor
While working at the Saturday Review, Walter began writing professionally. In 1877, he co-wrote a novel called Marston: A Story of these Modern Times. He also wrote books about literature, such as The Modern French Theatre (1878). He translated works by French writers into English. In 1882, he published a collection of his own poems.
In 1884, Walter Pollock became the main editor of the Saturday Review. He stayed in this important role for ten years. During this time, he became good friends with many famous writers of the Victorian era. These included Robert Louis Stevenson, Rudyard Kipling, and Oscar Wilde.
Collaborations and Later Works
Walter Pollock often worked with his friend Andrew Lang at the Saturday Review. Lang published many of his reviews and articles there. Pollock continued to write his own stories and poems. He co-wrote novels like Uncle Jack (1885) with Sir Walter Besant. He also wrote books by himself, such as A Nine Men's Morrice (1889).
Pollock and Besant also wrote a play called The Ballad-Monger. This play was performed at the Haymarket Theatre in London.
In 1894, Walter Pollock left the Saturday Review. He moved to Chawton to focus completely on his writing. He wrote novels about student life in Germany and even a book in French. He also wrote more plays and essays.
He worked with Sir Walter Besant again on a collection of plays called The Charm and Other Drawing-Room Plays (1896). The next year, he co-wrote a book about fencing. He was considered one of the best amateur fencers in Britain at the time.
Later, he wrote an important book about the author Jane Austen in 1899. He also wrote biographies of his friends, including Impressions of Henry Irving (1908). His last book was Icarian Flights (1920). Walter Pollock's wife passed away in 1922. He lived in retirement until his own death on February 21, 1926.
Walter Pollock's Fencing Skills
Walter Pollock was not just a writer; he was also a very skilled fencer. Fencing is a sport where two people fight with swords. He and his older brother, Sir Frederick Pollock, 3rd Baronet, were part of a group that helped bring back historical fencing in England. This group included other fencing experts like Alfred Hutton and Egerton Castle.
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