Isaac Rosenberg
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Isaac Rosenberg (25 November 1890 – 1 April 1918) was an English poet and artist. His ''Poems from the Trenches'' are recognized as some of the most outstanding poetry written during the
First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
.


Early life

Isaac Rosenberg was born in
Bristol Bristol () is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, the most populous city in the region. Built around the River Avon, Bristol, River Avon, it is bordered by t ...
on 25 November 1890 at 5 Adelaide Place near St. Mary Redcliffe. He was the second of six children and the eldest son (his twin brother died at birth) of his parents, Barnett (formerly Dovber) and Hacha Rosenberg, who were Lithuanian
Jewish Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...
immigrants to Britain from Dvinsk (now in
Latvia Latvia, officially the Republic of Latvia, is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is one of the three Baltic states, along with Estonia to the north and Lithuania to the south. It borders Russia to the east and Belarus to t ...
). In 1897, the family moved to
Stepney Stepney is an area in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets in the East End of London. Stepney is no longer officially defined, and is usually used to refer to a relatively small area. However, for much of its history the place name was applied to ...
, a poor district of the East End of London, and one with a large
Jewish Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...
community. Isaac Rosenberg attended St. Paul's Primary School at
Wellclose Square Wellclose Square is a public square in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, between Cable Street to the north and The Highway to the south. The western edge, now called Ensign Street, was previously called Well Street. The southern edge was c ...
, St George in the East parish. Later, he went to the Baker Street Board School in Stepney, which had a strong Jewish presence.Vivien Noakes (Editor.
Isaac Rosenberg
Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2008. See: Chronological Summary of Isaac Rozenberg's Life, pp. XXYII – XXXYI. During discussions of immigration issues in the House of Commons it was revealed that in Boys Department of the Baker Street Board School, Stepney, in 1901, there were "280 foreigners as against 29 English" pupils. β€
Great Britain. Parliament. – 1902, p. 1274
/ref> In 1902, he received a good conduct award and was allowed to take classes at the Arts and Crafts School in Stepney Green. In December 1904, he left the Baker Street School, and in January 1905, started an apprenticeship with Carl Hentschel, an engraver from
Fleet Street Fleet Street is a street in Central London, England. It runs west to east from Temple Bar, London, Temple Bar at the boundary of the City of London, Cities of London and City of Westminster, Westminster to Ludgate Circus at the site of the Lo ...
. He became interested in both poetry and
visual art The visual arts are art forms such as painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, photography, video, image, filmmaking, design, crafts, and architecture. Many artistic disciplines such as performing arts, conceptual art, and texti ...
, and started to attend evening classes at
Birkbeck College Birkbeck, University of London (formally Birkbeck College, University of London), is a public research university located in London, England, and a member institution of the University of London. Established in 1823 as the London Mechanics' ...
. He withdrew from his apprenticeship in January 1911. After a chance meeting in March 1911 with Lily Delissa Joseph at the National Gallery, she, her sister Henrietta LΓΆwy and Mrs Herbert Cohen sponsored his application in October 1911 to attend the
Slade School of Fine Art The UCL Slade School of Fine Art (informally The Slade) is the art school of University College London (UCL) and is based in London, England. It has been ranked as the UK's top art and design educational institution. The school is organised as ...
at
University College In a number of countries, a university college is a college institution that provides tertiary education but does not have full or independent university status. A university college is often part of a larger university. The precise usage varies f ...
, London (UCL). During his time at Slade School, Rosenberg notably studied alongside David Bomberg, Mark Gertler,
Stanley Spencer Sir Stanley Spencer, CBE Royal Academy of Arts, RA (30 June 1891 – 14 December 1959) was an English painter. Shortly after leaving the Slade School of Art, Spencer became well known for his paintings depicting Biblical scenes occurring as if ...
, Paul Nash, Edward Wadsworth,
Dora Carrington Dora de Houghton Carrington (29 March 1893 – 11 March 1932), known generally as Carrington, was an English painter and decorative artist, remembered in part for her association with members of the Bloomsbury Group, especially the writer Lytt ...
, William Roberts, and Christopher Nevinson. He was taken up by
Laurence Binyon Robert Laurence Binyon, Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour, CH (10 August 1869 – 10 March 1943) was an English poet, dramatist and art scholar. Born in Lancaster, Lancashire, Lancaster, England, his parents were Frederick Binyon, ...
and Edward Marsh, and began to write poetry seriously, but he suffered from ill-health. He published a pamphlet of ten poems, ''Night and Day'', in 1912. He also exhibited paintings at the Whitechapel Gallery in 1914. Afraid that his
chronic bronchitis Bronchitis is inflammation of the bronchi (large and medium-sized airways) in the lungs that causes coughing. Bronchitis usually begins as an infection in the nose, ears, throat, or sinuses. The infection then makes its way down to the bronchi. ...
would worsen, Rosenberg hoped to cure himself by relocating in 1914 to the warmer climate of South Africa, where his sister Mina lived in
Cape Town Cape Town is the legislature, legislative capital city, capital of South Africa. It is the country's oldest city and the seat of the Parliament of South Africa. Cape Town is the country's List of municipalities in South Africa, second-largest ...
. The Jewish Educational Aid Society of London helped by paying the fare. After arriving in Cape Town in the end of June 1914, he composed a poem "On Receiving News of the War". While many wrote about war as patriotic sacrifice, Rosenberg was critical of it from the outset. However, feeling better and hoping to find employment as an artist in Britain, Rosenberg returned home in March 1915. He published a second collection of poems, ''Youth'' and then after being unable to find a permanent job enlisted in the British Army at the end of October 1915. He asked that half of his pay be sent to his mother. In a personal letter, Rosenberg described his attitude towards war, "I never joined the army for patriotic reasons. Nothing can justify war. I suppose we must all fight to get the trouble over."


First World War

Rosenberg was assigned to the 12th Bantam Battalion of the
Suffolk Regiment The Suffolk Regiment was an infantry regiment Line infantry, of the line in the British Army with a history dating back to 1685. It saw service for three centuries, participating in many wars and conflicts, including the World War I, First and ...
, a '' bantam'' being a designation for men under the usual minimum height of 5'3". After apparently declining promotion to
lance corporal Lance corporal is a military rank, used by many English-speaking armed forces worldwide, and also by some police forces and other uniformed organisations. It is below the rank of corporal. Etymology The presumed origin of the rank of lance corp ...
, Rosenberg was transferred, first, to the South Lancashire Regiment, then to the King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment (KORL). He was sent with his unit to serve on the Western Front in France, where he arrived on 3 June 1916. He continued to write poetry while serving in the trenches, including "Break of Day in the Trenches", "Returning We Hear the Larks", and "Dead Man's Dump". In December 1916, ''Poetry'' Magazine published two of his poems. In January 1917, Rosenberg reported being sick and his family and friends asked his superiors to remove him from the front lines; he was transferred to the Fortieth Division Works Battalion and started to deliver barbed wire to the trenches. He wrote his poem ''Dead Man's Dump'' during this period. In June, he was temporarily assigned to the 229 Field Company,
Royal Engineers The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually called the Royal Engineers (RE), and commonly known as the ''Sappers'', is the engineering arm of the British Army. It provides military engineering and other technical support to the British Armed Forces ...
. In September 1916, he spent ten days in London on leave. After returning to his old unit, he fell sick in October and spent two months in the 51st General Hospital. After release, he was transferred to the 1st Battalion of the King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment. He applied for a transfer to an all-Jewish battalion, but historians have been unable to trace his application. On 21 March 1918, the German Army started its Spring Offensive on the Western Front. A week later, Rosenberg sent his last letter with the poem "Through These Pale Cold Days" to England before going to the front lines with reinforcements. Having just finished a night patrol, he was killed on the night of 1 April 1918 with another ten KORL soldiers; there is a dispute as to whether his death occurred at the hands of a sniper or in close combat. In either case, he died in a town called
Fampoux Fampoux () is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Hauts-de-France region of France east of Arras. Population Notable people * Paul Verlaine, poet spent his holidays there for several years, as his mother's family were from Famp ...
, northeast of
Arras Arras ( , ; ; historical ) is the prefecture of the Pas-de-Calais department, which forms part of the region of Hauts-de-France; before the reorganization of 2014 it was in Nord-Pas-de-Calais. The historic centre of the Artois region, with a ...
. He was first buried in a mass grave, but in 1926 the unidentified remains of the six KORL soldiers were individually re-interred at Bailleul Road East Cemetery, Plot V, Saint-Laurent-Blangy,
Pas de Calais The Strait of Dover or Dover Strait, historically known as the Dover Narrows, is the strait at the narrowest part of the English Channel, marking the boundary between the Channel and the North Sea, and separating Great Britain from continental ...
, France. Rosenberg's gravestone is marked with his name and the words, "Buried near this spot", as well as – "Artist and Poet".


Legacy

* Self-portraits by Rosenberg hang in the
National Portrait Gallery National Portrait Gallery may refer to: * National Portrait Gallery (Australia), in Canberra * National Portrait Gallery (Sweden), in Mariefred *National Portrait Gallery (United States), in Washington, D.C. *National Portrait Gallery, London ...
and
Tate Britain Tate Britain, known from 1897 to 1932 as the National Gallery of British Art and from 1932 to 2000 as the Tate Gallery, is an art museum on Millbank in the City of Westminster in London, England. It is part of the Tate network of galleries in En ...
. * A commemorative blue plaque to him hangs outside the Whitechapel Gallery, formerly the Whitechapel Library, which was unveiled by Anglo-Jewish writer Emanuel Litvinoff. * On 11 November 1985, Rosenberg was among 16 Great War poets who were commemorated on a slate stone unveiled in
Westminster Abbey Westminster Abbey, formally titled the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter at Westminster, is an Anglican church in the City of Westminster, London, England. Since 1066, it has been the location of the coronations of 40 English and British m ...
's Poet's Corner. The inscription on the stone was taken from
Wilfred Owen Wilfred Edward Salter Owen Military Cross, MC (18 March 1893 β€“ 4 November 1918) was an English poet and soldier. He was one of the leading poets of the First World War. His war poetry on the horrors of Trench warfare, trenches and Chemi ...
's "Preface" to his poems and reads: "My subject is War, and the pity of War. The Poetry is in the pity." * Rosenberg appears in the novel ''Grosse Fugue'' by Ian Phillips. * In '' The Great War and Modern Memory'',
Paul Fussell Paul Fussell Jr. (22 March 1924 – 23 May 2012) was an American cultural and literary historian, author and university professor. His writings cover a variety of topics, from scholarly works on eighteenth-century English literature to commentary ...
's landmark study of the literature of the First World War, Fussell identifies Rosenberg's "Break of Day in the Trenches" as "the greatest poem of the war." *
BBC Radio 4 BBC Radio 4 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. The station replaced the BBC Home Service on 30 September 1967 and broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes from the BBC's headquarters at Broadcasti ...
broadcast a documentary on his life called "Nobody Told Me To Oil My Boots", written and directed by Neil Cargill with narration by Sir Antony Sher and Simon Schatzberger – re-broadcast by Radio 4Extra.


Notes


References

* Geoff Akers – ''Beating for Light: The Story of Isaac Rosenberg'' (2006) * Jean Moorcroft Wilson – ''Isaac Rosenberg, poet and painter'' (1975) * ''Word and Image VI. Isaac Rosenberg 1890–1918'' (National Book League, 1975) * Jean Liddiard – ''Isaac Rosenberg; the Half Used Life'' (1975) * J. Cohen – ''Journey to the Trenches: The Life of Isaac Rosenberg 1890–1918'' (1975) * Deborah Maccoby – ''God Made Blind: The Life and Work of Isaac Rosenberg'' (1999 Symposium Press; ) * Harold Finch – ''The Tower Hamlets Connection – a Biographical Guide'' (Stepney Books ) * ''Six Poets of the Great War: Wilfred Owen, Siegfried Sassoon, Isaac Rosenberg, Richard Aldington, Edmund Blunden, Edward Thomas, Rupert Brooke and Many Others.'' (edited by Adrian Barlow) Cambridge University Press, 1995; * ''Poets of the Great War: Wilfred Owen, Siegfried Sassoon, Isaac Rosenberg, Richard Aldington, Edmund Blunden, Edward Thomas, Rupert Brooke, and Many Others.'' (Naxos AudioBooks; ) * Isaac Rosenberg – ''Selected Poems and Letters'' ed. Jean Liddiard (Enitharmon, 2003) * Jon Stallworthy, β€˜Rosenberg, Isaac (1890–1918)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 200
accessed 2 October 2013
* Isaac Rosenberg – ''Selected Poems and Letters'' ed. Jean Liddiard (Enitharmon, 2003) * William Baker– ''Whitechapel at War: Isaac Rosenberg and his Circle'' (Ben Uri Gallery and Museum, 2009; )
Charles Tomlinson, ''Isaac Rosenberg of Bristol'' (Bristol Historical Association pamphlets, no. 53, 1982), 19 pp.)


External links

*
The Isaac Rosenberg Collection
i
The First World War Poetry Digital Archive
by Oxford University
contains images of all Rosenberg's War poetry manuscripts, letters, plus a searchable full text corpus.

* [http://www.english.emory.edu/LostPoets/ Lost Poets of the Great War], a hypertext document on the poetry of World War I by Harry Rusche, of Emory University. It contains a bibliography of related materials.
Selected Poetry of Isaac Rosenberg
– Biography and 5 poems (Dead Man's Dump, God, The Jew, Louse Hunting, Through These Pale Cold Days) * *
Isaac Rosenberg profile and poems at Poets.org
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rosenberg, Isaac 1890 births 1918 deaths Burials in Hauts-de-France 20th-century English painters 20th-century English poets 20th-century English male writers Alumni of the Slade School of Fine Art British Army personnel of World War I British military personnel killed in World War I Jewish English writers English male painters English male poets English people of Latvian-Jewish descent English people of Russian-Jewish descent English World War I poets Jewish poets King's Own Royal Regiment soldiers Writers from Bristol Suffolk Regiment soldiers Whitechapel Boys Lost Generation writers Military personnel from Bristol 20th-century English male artists