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Alfred Noyes

© Mary M. Alward

One of my favorite poems was written by Alfred Noyes, who was born in Wolverton, England on September 16, 1880.

Alfred attended Exeter College in Oxford. His studies didn't go well and he was unable to obtain a degree. However, his first collection of poetry, "The Loom of Years," was published in 1902.

By 1907, Alfred had published five other works of poetry. Drake: An English Epic, was published in 1906.

In 1908, Alfred's popularity grew. He was Professor of Modern English Literature at Princeton from 1914 to 1923.

Two of Alfred's works, Beyond the desert: a tale of Death Valley (1920) and The Lord of misrule, and other poems (1915) were published only in the United States. In 1916, Alfred returned to England to serve in the military. There, he worked closely with John Buchan on propaganda.

In 1929, Alfred took up residence at Lisle Combe, St. Lawrence, Isle of Wight. He wrote of this home in Orchard's Bay, a book of essays and poems. His former home in Regent's Park was sold to none other than H.G. Wells.

I was first introduced to this poet in grade school. It was probably in grade six. We studied what is probably his best-known poem, The Highwayman. I still love this poem. There's something mysterious and haunting about it that seems to pull me into it. It could be Alfred's great imaging, for when I read the poem, I can see The Highwayman riding up to the "old inn door," and hear the horses hooves on the cobblestones.

Alfred's other works include:

The Forest of Wild Thyme

The Flower of Old Japan

Drake

Tales of the Mermaid

The Torch Bearers

The Book of Earth

The Last Voyage

The Unknown God

If Judgement Comes

Alfred married his first wife, Garnett Daniels in 1907. When she died in 1926, he converted his religion to Catholic and married, Mary Weld-Blundell.

During WWII, Alfred lived in the United States and Canada. He was a strong supporter of the Allied Forces. In 1949, he returned to England because he was going blind. His later works were all dictated because of his deteriorating eyesight.

Noyes' autobiography, Two worlds for memory, was published in 1953. The book described his life on both sides of the Atlantic.

Alfred Noyes died June 25, 1958. He is buried on the Isle of Wight.

Links:

Read the poem,

"The Highwayman." I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

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