Denis Glover | |
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| Born | Denis James Matthews Glover (1912-12-09)9 December 1912 Dunedin, New Zealand |
| Died | 9 August 1980(1980-08-09) (aged 67) Wellington, New Zealand |
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| Education | University of Canterbury, BA |
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| Partner | Khura Skelton (1954–1969) |
Denis James Matthews GloverDSC (9 December 1912 – 9 August 1980) was a New Zealand poet and publisher. Born in Dunedin, he attended theUniversity of Canterbury where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts, and subsequently lectured. He worked as a reporter and editor for a time, and in 1937 founded theCaxton Press, which published the works of many well-known New Zealand writers of the day (including Glover's own poetry). After a period of service in World War II, he and his friendCharles Brasch founded the literary magazineLandfall, which Caxton began publishing in 1947.
Glover's later years were marred by alcoholism, forcing him to resign from Caxton Press and subsequent roles, and affecting his personal life. After a move to Wellington with a new partner, he continued to work as a copywriter, publisher and teacher, and amongst other things served as a member of the New Zealand Literary Fund Advisory Committee from 1955 to 1958 and as president of the Friends of the Turnbull Library from 1963 to 1965. In the mid-1970s he was awarded an honorary doctorate of literature fromVictoria University of Wellington. During his life he published many poetry collections and other works; one of his best-known poems is "The Magpies" (1941).
Glover was born in Dunedin on 9 December 1912. His parents were Henry Lawrence Glover, a dentist, and Lyla Jean Matthews. Glover went toArthur Street School, Dunedin, until moving with his mother in 1925 toNew Plymouth. He attendedCentral School there, being awardeddux. He was also aBoy Scout andschool cadet during this period.[1] In 1926 he attendedNew Plymouth Boys' High School, before moving to Auckland where he attendedAuckland Grammar School. There, he andBob Lowry published an unofficial school journalLa Verite. He finally moved toChristchurch in 1929 where he attendedChrist's College until 1930.[2] Glover was a popular and keen swimmer, boxer, and cross-country athlete at college.
From 1931, Glover attended theUniversity of Canterbury, studying Greek, Latin, philosophy, and English for aBachelor of Arts in English and Greek. While at university, he was captain of the boxing club and fought in the welterweight division, obtaining aUniversity blue. He also played rugby for the Old Collegians and sailed yachts. Glover was a member of the Canterbury Mountaineering Club and Christchurch Classical Association. His mountaineering experiences formed the basis for his laterArawata Bill andSings Harry poems. On 8 January 1936 he married Mary Granville.
From 1936 to 1938, he was an assistant lecturer in English and reported university news for thePress until he wrote an article advocating trial marriage, which angered the university. Well known for radical leftist opinions, he was often in trouble with authorities. In addition to writing for thePress, Glover editedNew Zealand Motor Owner, the Canterbury University CollegeReview, and Students Association newspaperCanta. In 1934 he interviewedGeorge Bernard Shaw for the newspaper.
In 1932 at the university sports tournament in Auckland he again met up with Lowry. Lowry had by this time set up a press for the Auckland University Students Association and was publishing a magazine calledPhoenix. Returning to Canterbury Glover formed the Caxton Club with the aim of studying printing and typography. In 1937 together with John Drew he founded theCaxton Press. The Caxton Press enabled Glover to pursue his interest in publishing. Caxton published the early works of many New Zealand writers such asUrsula Bethell,R. A. K. Mason,Allen Curnow,Charles Brasch,Frank Sargeson andA. R. D. Fairburn. Glover's own poems were also printed.
His work at the Press was interrupted by service with theRoyal Navy inWorld War II. He had wanted to join theRoyal New Zealand Navy but as there were no suitable vacancies he applied under a programme which sent New Zealand naval recruits to the United Kingdom on loan to the Royal Navy. He left Christchurch for Auckland, then embarking on theDominion Monarch forHMS Ganges Shortly Gate, England, arriving in February 1942.
After a short period of training he was assigned to the newly completed destroyerHMS Onslaught for its sea trials. TheOnslaught was then tasked with escortingArctic convoys toMurmansk, Russia. In 1943 Glover undertook officer training atHMS King Alfred being promoted to Lieutenant on 29 October.[3] He was placed in command of infantry landing craftLCI(S) 516. During this time he provided sea training for various infantry units and took part in sorties across the Channel to France. In June 1944 he tookLord Lovat's 6th commando brigade 2 Troop underLt-Colonel Mills-Roberts, toOuistreham,Normandy (nearSword Beach) onD Day earning aDistinguished Service Cross for bravery.[4] Glover and his crew had rescued 233Warwickshire Regiment infantrymen from the sinking LCI(L) 130 and later that same day the crew of a sister ship LCI(S) 517, which was under command of a fellow New Zealander Lieutenant Joseph Gaunt.[5] Glover returned to New Zealand in 1944 and joined theRoyal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve where he rose to the rank ofLieutenant-Commander on 29 October 1951.[6]
In 1975, Glover was presented with theSoviet Union's war veterans medal for his service on the Russian convoys.
During 1944, while on leave in London, Glover stayed with his New Zealand friend Charles Brasch. Together they developed the idea for a new literary magazine. This becameLandfall, which Caxton began publishing in March 1947. From 1945 to 1948 Glover served on the Canterbury University College Council, while also working at Caxton. His work was hindered however by a growing drinking problem and he was dismissed at the end of 1951. He began working for Albion Wright at Pegasus Press but was again dismissed. During this period he separated from his wife; they did not divorce until 1970. In 1950 he began a relationship with Khura Skelton and they moved toPaekākāriki in 1954, but his drinking problem descended into alcoholism. Kura died in 1969.
In 1954, Glover worked for Carlton, Carruthers, du Chateau and King as an advertising copywriter and subsequently for Wingfield Press from 1954 to 1962 as production manager and typographer. He tutored for the Technical Correspondence Institute from 1964 to 1973. During the late 1950s he helped develop the Mermaid Press and in 1971 founded the Cats-paw Press. He was a member of the New Zealand Literary Fund Advisory Committee from 1955 to 1958 and president of the Friends of the Turnbull Library from 1963 to 1965.
Glover married Gladys Evelyn Cameron (née Stevens) on 21 September 1971. In 1975 he was invited to visit Russia by the Soviet Writers Union. Later that year he was awarded an honorary doctorate of literature from Victoria University of Wellington and elected president of honour of the New Zealand Centre of PEN. On 7 August 1980, Glover fell down some steps at Breaker Bay and injured himself. He died two days later from bronchopneumonia.
Glover's best-known works are theSings Harry sequence (1951), "Arawata Bill", and "The Magpies" (1941). The refrain of the latter ("Quardle oodle ardle wardle doodle", imitating the sound of theAustralian magpie) is one of the most famous lines in New Zealand poetry.
PlaywrightRoger Hall wrote a play calledMr Punch about Glover's life.
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