John Donaldson (1921?–1989), also known as Jon Inglis, was a British author and poet most particularly associated in later life with

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Life

Jon Inglis was born into poverty in

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, probably in 1920–21, and was sent to an

orphanage An orphanage is a residential institution, total institution or group home, devoted to the care of orphans and children who, for various reasons, cannot be cared by their biological families. The parents may be deceased, absent, or abusi ...

at the age of five when his mother who neglected the children in favour of living a life of a single women and alcohol dependent, could no longer cope with the children and his disabled sibling and abandoned them. At the Barnardo's orphanage, he experienced cold, hunger and abuse, he ran away to become the challenger in a mobile boxing booth. He joined the Pioneer Corps at outbreak of

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

and was captured by the

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during the retreat to

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; in consequence he spent the whole war in prison camps. Escaping many times only to be caught again and returned to solitary confinement where he began writing poetry. He later novelised his early life under the title ''Forever Endeavour''. After the war, he became a successful and respected wealthy businessman Suddenly and without warning the 1970s he turned his back on his children, his wife and left them destitute in order to become a full-time writer. His wife, Hannalore had been working by day in order for him to write and typing all his plays and works by night in order to help him was heartbroken. He went to live in

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with no possessions, spending nights on the streets or sleeping under bridges, and speaking at Hyde Park's

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on the insubstantial nature of power and acquisition. This period was later novelised as ''Season of the Butterfly'', published after his death by his second wife. Aside from the novels, John Inglis wrote a very large corpus of philosophical aphorisms, together with poems, and plays. He was a recognised figure around

in his latter years The majority of his great quantity of writings are held, though still unpublished, at the Oxfordshire Archives. On his death his substantial written works although promised by John to his only daughter of his abandoned children, were kept by his second wife. Members of his family are hoping that Oxfordshire Archives will hand them to their rightful beneficiary, his daughter. Thus far his second wife has refused to give them to his daughter. The last thing he said to his Daughter prior to his death, "Forgive me, I have nothing to give you but my work it is all I am and no greater love than this to give". He joined the Pioneer Corps at outbreak of

and was captured by the

during the retreat to

; in consequence he spent the whole war in prison camps, where he began writing poetry. He later novelised his early life under the title ''Forever Endeavour''. After the war, he became a successful and respected businessman, but in the 1970s he left his home, his work and family to live in

with no possessions, spending nights on the streets or sleeping under bridges, and speaking at Hyde Park's

on the insubstantial nature of power and acquisition. This period was later novelised as ''Season of the Butterfly'', published after his death by his second wife. Aside from the novels, John Inglis (Donaldson) wrote a very large corpus of philosophical aphorisms, together with poems, and plays. He was a recognised figure around

in his latter years, and the majority of his great quantity of writings are held, though still unpublished, at the Oxfordshire Archives. The poet

Kathleen Raine Kathleen Jessie Raine (14 June 1908 – 6 July 2003) was an English poet, critic and scholar, writing in particular on William Blake, W. B. Yeats and Thomas Taylor. Known for her interest in various forms of spirituality, most prominently Plat ...

wrote to John's wife: ''"John Inglis was indeed a brave and remarkable man... There is real vision in his poems... I can understand what was in John's mind when he gave himself totally to seeking to bring about the only revolution that can change the world, A CHANGE OF HEART IN PEOPLE, ordinary people everywhere."''

References

* Donaldson, B. (ed.), ''Season of the Butterfly'', Troy Publishing, Oxford,

External links

OxfordPoet.com
is a resource for his major works.
The Oxfordshire County Archives
repository of his original papers. {{DEFAULTSORT:Donaldson, John 1920s births 1989 deaths 20th-century English poets English male poets 20th-century English male writers British Army personnel of World War II Royal Pioneer Corps soldiers British World War II prisoners of war World War II prisoners of war held by Germany Military personnel from Newcastle upon Tyne