Stephen Phillips (28 July 1864 – 9 December 1915) was an

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ...

poet and dramatist, who enjoyed considerable popularity early in his career.

Biography

He was born at Somertown near

Oxford Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the ...

, the son of the Rev. Stephen Phillips, precentor of Peterborough Cathedral. He was educated at Stratford and Peterborough Grammar Schools, and considered entering

Queens' College, Cambridge Queens' College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Queens' is one of the oldest colleges of the university, founded in 1448 by Margaret of Anjou. The college spans the River Cam, colloquially referred to as the "light s ...

on a minor scholarship to study classics; but he instead went to a London crammer to prepare for the civil service. In 1885, however, he moved to Wolverhampton to join his cousin

F. R. Benson Sir Francis Robert Benson (4 November 1858 – 31 December 1939), known professionally as Frank Benson or F. R. Benson, was an English actor-manager. He founded his own company in 1883 and produced all but two of William Shakespeare, Shakespeare ...

's dramatic company, and for six years he played various small parts. Stephen Phillips - portrait

In 1890 a slender volume of verse was published at Oxford with the title ''Primavera'', which contained contributions by him and by his cousin

Laurence Binyon Robert Laurence Binyon, CH (10 August 1869 – 10 March 1943) was an English poet, dramatist and art scholar. Born in Lancaster, England, his parents were Frederick Binyon, a clergyman, and Mary Dockray. He studied at St Paul's School, London ...

and others. In 1894 he published ''Eremus'', a long poem of loose structure in blank verse of a philosophical complexion. In 1896 appeared ''Christ in Hades'', forming with a few other short pieces one of the slim paper-covered volumes of Elkin Mathews's Shilling Garland. This poem caught the eye of the critics, and when it was followed by a collection of ''Poems'' in 1897 the writer's position as a new poet of exceptional gifts was generally recognized. This volume contained a new edition of ''Christ in Hades'', together with ''Marpessa'', ''The Woman with the Dead Soul'', ''The Wife'' and shorter pieces, including ''To Milton, Blind''. The volume won the prize of £100 offered by the ''Academy'' newspaper for the best new book of its year, ran through half a dozen editions in two years, and established Phillips's rank as poet, which was sustained by the publication, in the ''Nineteenth Century'' in 1898 of his poem ''Endymion''. Portrait of Stephen Phillips

Sir George Alexander, the actor-manager, moved perhaps by a certain clamour among the critics for a literary drama, then commissioned Phillips to write him a play, the result being '' Paolo and Francesca'' (1900), a drama founded on

Dante Dante Alighieri (; – 14 September 1321), probably baptized Durante di Alighiero degli Alighieri and often referred to as Dante (, ), was an Italian poet, writer and philosopher. His ''Divine Comedy'', originally called (modern Italian: ' ...

's famous episode from ''Inferno''. Encouraged by the great success of the drama in its literary form, Mr Alexander produced the piece at the St. James' Theatre in 1902.Produced by Sir George Alexander at the St. James' Theatre beginning 6 March 1902. Mason, p. 237. In the meantime, Phillips's next play, ''Herod: a Tragedy'', had been produced by Beerbohm Tree on 31 October 1900, and was published as a book in 1901; ''Ulysses'', also produced by Beerbohm Tree, was published in 1902; ''The Sin of David'', a drama on the story of David and

Bathsheba Bathsheba ( or ; he, בַּת־שֶׁבַע, ''Baṯ-šeḇaʿ'', Bat-Sheva or Batsheva, "daughter of Sheba" or "daughter of the oath") was the wife of Uriah the Hittite and later of David, according to the Hebrew Bible. She was the mother of ...

, translated into the times and terms of Cromwellian England, was published in 1904; and ''Nero'', produced by Beerbohm Tree, was published in 1906. In these plays the poet's avowed aim was, instead of attempting to revive the method of

Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...

and the Elizabethans, to revitalize the method of

Greek drama Ancient Greek theatre was a theatrical culture that flourished in ancient Greece from 700 BC. The city-state of Athens, which became a significant cultural, political, and religious place during this period, was its centre, where the theatre was ...

. ''Paolo and Francesca'' (which admitted certainly one scene on an Elizabethan model) was the most successful. When a theatrical production of ''Ulysses'' was staged at

Her Majesty's Theatre Her Majesty's Theatre is a West End theatre situated on Haymarket in the City of Westminster, London. The present building was designed by Charles J. Phipps and was constructed in 1897 for actor-manager Herbert Beerbohm Tree, who established t ...

, London, in 1902 the opening night was attended by the Royal Family, nobility, politicians, and many other members of high society. The 29 January 1902 issue of ''

The Tatler ''Tatler'' is a British magazine published by Condé Nast Publications focusing on fashion and lifestyle, as well as coverage of high society and politics. It is targeted towards the British upper-middle class and upper class, and those interes ...

'' reported that the artist

Henry Jamyn Brooks Henry Jamyn Brooks (1839–1925) was a British painter, particularly known for his pictures of meetings and events, in which many individuals are personally identifiable. He painted royalty, and portraits of civic leaders and military people, ...

was working on a picture of the attendees, which was to include some 300 portraits. See the section on Stephen Phillips in ''Poets of the Younger Generation'', by William Archer (1902); also the articles on Tragedy and Mr Stephen Phillips, by

William Watson William, Willie, Bill or Billy Watson may refer to: Entertainment * William Watson (songwriter) (1794–1840), English concert hall singer and songwriter * William Watson (poet) (1858–1935), English poet * Billy Watson (actor) (1923–2022), A ...

in the Fortnightly Review (March 1898); The Poetry of Mr Stephen Phillips, in the Edinburgh Review (January 1900); Mr Stephen Phillips, in the Century (January 1901), by

Edmund Gosse Sir Edmund William Gosse (; 21 September 184916 May 1928) was an English poet, author and critic. He was strictly brought up in a small Protestant sect, the Plymouth Brethren, but broke away sharply from that faith. His account of his childhoo ...

; and Mr Stephen Phillips, in the Quarterly Review (April 1902), by

Arthur Symons Arthur William Symons (28 February 186522 January 1945) was a British poet, critic and magazine editor. Life Born in Milford Haven, Wales, to Cornish parents, Symons was educated privately, spending much of his time in France and Italy. In 188 ...

References

Sources

* * Mason, A. E. W. (1935). ''Sir George Alexander & The St. James' Theatre''. Reissued 1969, New York: Benjamin Blom. * Whittington-Egan, Richard (2006). ''Stephen Phillips: A Biography''. Rivendale Press. . *

External links

* *
Play ''"Armageddon on Great War Theatre website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Phillips, Stephen 1868 births 1915 deaths 19th-century English dramatists and playwrights People from Oxford English male dramatists and playwrights English male poets 19th-century English poets 20th-century English dramatists and playwrights 20th-century English poets 19th-century English male writers 20th-century English male writers