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= Henry_de_Vere_Stacpoole =
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Introduction
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Henry de Vere Stacpoole (9 April 1863 - 12 April 1951) was an Irish
author. His 1908 romance novel 'The Blue Lagoon' has been adapted into
multiple films. He published using his own name and sometimes the
pseudonym Tyler de Saix.
Biography
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Stacpoole was born in Kingstown --today's Dún Laoghaire-- near Dublin,
on 9 April 1863; he was the last son of the Reverend William Church
Stacpoole, a theologian and principal of Kingstown School, and
Charlotte Augusta (née Mountjoy). He had three older sisters: the
eldest was Florence Stacpoole, who wrote books and pamphlets on health
and medicine. Henry attributed his love for nature which characterized
his entire existence to the influence of his mother, who was of Irish
origin but had spent her childhood until the age of twelve in the
wildest and most wooded regions of Canada. Reverend William died
prematurely in 1870 and the mother decided to return to Ireland where
she raised her four children alone. Due to breathing problems that
were misdiagnosed, in the winter of 1871, the family moved for a long
stay in the south of France, at Nice.
At Portarlington Boarding School in Ireland, 100 miles from Kingstown,
he received his education. It was not a joyful experience; in the
autobiographical 'Men and Mice' he wrote about the fact that his noisy
and rough companions abused him physically and mentally, making him
feel like "a little [[King Arthur|[King] Arthur]] in a cage of
baboons." One night he fled through an adjacent girls' school, but his
older sister dragged him back to boarding school.
After moving his family to London, he enrolled at Malvern College in
Worcestershire, a progressive school that finally met his
expectations. Despite being more drawn to literature than anatomy
classes, he studied medicine at St George's and St Mary's hospitals
and became a doctor in 1891. He practised only sporadically, initially
as a doctor aboard a layout ship.
As a young man he befriended Pearl Craigie (known as John Oliver
Hobbes) and this facilitated his first publication, a poem about
Belgravia. In 1890 he met Aubrey Beardsley, Alfred Noyes, and other
writers and artists of the 'Yellow Book' group. This environment
influenced his first novel, 'The Intended' (1894), a tragic novel
about two look-alikes, one rich and the other poor, who exchange
places for fun; but it had very little success. Years later, Stacpoole
retold this story in 'The Man Who Lost Himself' (1918); a penniless
American who impersonates his rich lookalike in England; and this time
it was a commercial success.
His second, 'Pierrot!' (1896), is set during the Franco-Prussian War
and deals with an ambiguous relationship between a French boy and his
look-alike psychic double, in the form of a Prussian officer; all
through a story of "family curses" from which it appears that the
young Frenchman may be a parricide. Hobbes recommended a lighter
approach to the subject.
'Pierrot' was followed by 'Death, the Knight, and the Lady' (1897), a
powerful mix of reincarnation, disguise, and uxoricide. The
originality of the themes and the development was beyond doubt, but
the audience was certainly not prepared. These novels, and 'The Rapin'
(1899), all failed commercially.
In these early works Stacpoole develops his vision of existence for
which the body is a "shell" - "chrysalis" he often says in these texts
- waiting for a potential "charmer" that allows him to "divide", so
that this existence can be shared by several bodies.
In the summer of 1898, Stacpoole practised as a country doctor in
Somerset and wrote 'The Doctor' (1899), a novel about English village
life centred on an old doctor and a niece French who comes to upset
his routine. Stacpoole considered this his best work, but at this time
his public and critical success was very modest.
By the early 1900s, Stacpoole had become a permanent professional
writer; in an interview, he claimed that he wrote 2000 words a day and
that his main sources of inspiration were Edgar Allan Poe, Victor
Hugo, Eugène Sue, and Robert Louis Stevenson.
He would be spared the "storm of success" for another seven years,
during which time he published seven books, including a collection of
children's stories and two novels in collaboration with his friend
William Alexander Bryce. In 1904 he enlisted the assistance of the
Royal Literary Fund based on the fact that sciatica and depression
prevented him from writing.
Public success came, however, in 1905 with a comic-romantic novel,
'Fanny Lambert', and in 1907 with a sea adventure, 'Crimson Azaleas';
in the latter two rude sailors adopt a Japanese orphan. He also wrote
articles and novels for periodicals, particularly for the 'Daily
Express'.
Still practising as a doctor, on 17 December 1907 he married Margaret
Ann Robson, at St Stephen's Church, Westbourne Park. At that time he
lived at Eden Vue, Langtivathby, Cumberland, where he practised
medicine. After the wedding, the couple moved to Stebbing, Essex,
where Stacpoole met H.G. Wells and served as a magistrate.
Stacpoole's greatest commercial success came in 1908 with 'The Blue
Lagoon', which was reprinted at least twenty-four times in thirteen
years, and from which films were released in 1923, now lost, then 1949
and 1980. 'The Blue Lagoon' is the story of two cousins, Dicky and
Emmeline Lestrange, stranded on a remote island with a beautiful
lagoon. They are raised by corpulent sailor Paddy Button, who drinks
until he dies at two and a half years. After seeing the sailor's
corpse, the children flee to another part of Palm Tree Island,
terrified and confused. Fall in love after five years. Sex and birth
are as mysterious to them as death, but they instinctively copulate
and conceive. Her son was born when fifteen-year-old Emmeline lost
consciousness in the jungle and woke up to find a boy on the ground.
In Stacpoole's gender-reversal tradition, the Lestranges call the
child Hannah and live happily ever after until they are unexpectedly
expelled from their tropical Eden. The novel shows their mating as
natural and outside Edwardian moral, religious, and social norms. The
novel's timely focus on childhood, return-to-Eden natural life, and
sex stand out.
'The Blue Lagoon' is part of a genre that focuses on childhood and
fantasy from a psychological and sentimental perspective. This genre
became popular during the Edwardian era, thanks to the success of
books such as 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz' by L. Frank Baum, 'Peter
Pan' by J. M. Barrie, and 'The Blue Bird' by Maurice Maeterlinck. He
was also influenced by Lewis Carroll's 'Alice's Adventures in
Wonderland' and the Book of Genesis.
'The Blue Lagoon' is believed to have sparked a trend of island-themed
novels in popular fiction. However, the author of the novel expressed
his dissatisfaction with the trend due to copyright infringement. The
book also had a notable impact on Edgar Rice Burroughs' 'Tarzan of the
Apes'. Although Stacpoole initially had no intention of writing
sequels, he eventually authored two additional books: 'The Garden of
God' (1923) and 'The Gates of Morning' (1925). These three novels were
later compiled and published in 'The Blue Lagoon Omnibus' in 1933.
In August 1920, the theatrical adaptation of 'The Blue Lagoon',
written by Norman MacOwan and Charlton Mann, premiered at the Prince
of Wales Theatre. The stage version was met with critical acclaim and
enjoyed a successful eight-month run, captivating audiences with its
captivating storyline and dynamic characters. However, the adaptation
was not without its challenges. A significant hurdle that the
production team had to overcome was a rights dispute with the original
publisher, T. Fisher Unwin, which caused a lengthy delay of 12 years
from the novel's release to the debut of the stage adaptation. Despite
this setback, the play eventually made its way to the stage, where it
proved to be a smash hit, delighting audiences with its captivating
plot and enchanting characters.
After the success of 'The Blue Lagoon', Stacpoole's fame and
recognition skyrocketed. Throughout his extensive career, he authored
more than sixty books, predominantly in the fiction genre. His
literary work gained widespread popularity in North America, with
numerous translations in major European languages. Moreover, his books
were repeatedly reprinted for four to five decades, attesting to his
enduring popularity. Stacpoole's written works explored diverse
settings, encompassing ancient Athens, Iceland, the Greek islands, and
France, among others. This variety of locations is indicative of his
lifelong passion for travel, which he developed during his childhood
years.
He published some works under the pseudonym Tyler de Saix, including
'The Vulture's Prey' (1909). A moving depiction of Belgian atrocities
in the Congo, 'The Pools of Silence' (1910), was the result of a trip
to Africa; after reading this work Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was induced
to organize a conference to discuss these atrocities and make them as
public as possible.
During World War I Stacpoole and his wife left Stebbing and moved to
Astle House, Castle Hedingham. Shortly before 1920, they moved to
London; his neighbour was the scholar Arthur S. Way, who induced him
to undertake the translation of Sappho's poems. He moved to Cliff
Dene, Bonchurch, Isle of Wight, in November 1922; the description of
these places is in 'The Story of My Village' (1947). We also have the
same setting in 'Goblin Market' (1925), a delicate social and
psychological novel starring a middle-aged man. In 1922 Stacpoole
published several volumes of verse, including his translations of
Sappho and François Villon (of whom he also wrote a popular
biography). After Margaret died in 1934, he gave the village of
Bonchurch a pond and a bird "sanctuary" in her memory. On 21 March
1938, he married Margaret's sister, Florence Robson. He had no
children from either marriage.
Due to his deep love and appreciation for nature, he established the
Penguin Club, which was dedicated to protecting seabirds from the
harmful effects of oil. This cause had been close to his heart since
the 1920s, and he continued to actively pursue it throughout his life.
Despite being known for his romantic treasure hunt stories, Stacpoole
also wrote two captivating memoirs, 'Men and Mice' (1942) and 'More
Men and Mice' (1945), which showcased his sentimental side.
Stacpoole was a robust and tall man, with a cheerful character. Along
with Conan Doyle, he believed in the existence of fairies after the
Cottingley fairy incident in the 1920s, when fairies were apparently
photographed by two young girls named Elsie and Frances.
He died due to cerebral thrombosis after an operation in hospital at
Shanklin, Isle of Wight, on 12 April 1951. He was laid to rest at St
Boniface Church, Bonchurch.
*'François Villon: His Life and Times, 1431-1463' (literary biography)
(1916)
''The Blue Lagoon'' series of novels
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*'The Blue Lagoon' (1908)
**'The Garden of God' (1923) (sequel to 'The Blue Lagoon')
**'The Gates of Morning' (1925) (sequel to 'The Garden of God')
*'The Girl of the Golden Reef: A Romance of the Blue Lagoon' (1929)
*'The Blue Lagoon Omnibus' (1933)
Other novels
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*'The Intended' (1894)
*'Pierrot!' (1895)
*'Death, the Knight, and the Lady: A Ghost Story' (1897)
*'The Doctor: A Study from Life' (1899)
*'The Rapin' (1899). Republished as 'Toto: A Parisian Sketch' (1910).
*'The Bourgeois' (1901)
*'The Lady-Killer' (1902)
*'Fanny Lambert' (1906)
*'The Golden Astrolabe', co-authored by W. A. Bryce (1906).
*'The Meddler: A Novel of Sorts', co-authored by W. A. Bryce (1907).
*'The Crimson Azaleas: A Novel' (1908)
*'The Cottage on the Fells' (1908). Republished as 'Murder on the
Fell' (1937)
*'Patsy' (1908)
*'The Reavers: A Tale of Wild Adventure on the Moors of Lorne',
co-authored by W. A. Bryce (1908)
*'The Man Without a Head', using the pseudonym Tyler De Saix (1908)
*'The Vulture's Prey', using the pseudonym Tyler De Saix (1908)
*'Garryowen: The Romance of a Race-Horse' (1909)
*'The Pools of Silence' (1909)
*'The Cruise of the King Fisher: A Tale of Deep-Sea Adventure' (1910)
*'The Drums of War' (1910)
*'The Ship of Coral: A Tropical Romance' (1911)
*'The Order of Release' (1912)
*'The Street of the Flute-Player: A Romance' (1912)
*'Molly Beamish' (1913)
*'Bird Cay' (1913)
*'The Children of the Sea: A Romance' (1913)
*'Father O'Flynn' (1914)
*'Monsieur de Rochefort: A Romance of Old Paris' (1914), published in
the US as 'The Presentation' (1914)
*'The New Optimism' (1914)
*'The Blue Horizon: Romance from the Tropics and the Sea' (1915)
*'The Pearl Fishers' (1915)
*'The Red Day' (fictional diary) (1915)
*'The Reef of Stars: A Romance of the Tropics' (1916), published in
the US as 'The Gold Trail' (1916)
*'Corporal Jacques of the Foreign Legion' (1916)
*'In Blue Waters' (1917)
*'Sea Plunder' (1917)
*'The Starlit Garden' (1917), published in the US as 'The Ghost Girl'
(1918)
*'The Willow Tree: The Romance of a Japanese Garden' (1918)
*'The Man Who Lost Himself' (1918)
*'The Beach of Dreams: A Story of the True World' (1919)
*'Under Blue Skies' (1919)
*'A Man of the Islands' (1920)
*'Uncle Simon', co-authored by Margaret Stacpoole (1920), published in
the US as 'The Man Who Found Himself' (1920)
*'Satan: A Story of the Sea King's Country' (1921)
*'Satan: A Romance of the Bahamas' (1921), filmed as 'The Truth About
Spring' (1965)
*'Men, Women, and Beasts' (1922)
*'Vanderdecken: The Story of a Man' (1922)
*'Golden Ballast' (1924)
*'Ocean Tramps' (1924)
*'The House of Crimson Shadows' (1925)
*'The City in the Sea' (1925)
*'The Mystery of Uncle Bollard' (1927)
*'Goblin Market' (1927)
*'Tropic Love' (1928)
*'Roxanne' (1928), published in the US as 'The Return of Spring'
(1928)
*'Eileen of the Trees' (1929)
*'The Tales of Mynheer Amayat' (1930)
*'The Chank Shell' (1930), published in the US as 'The Island of Lost
Women' (1930).
*'Pacific Gold' (1931)
*'Love on the Adriatic' (1932)
*'The Lost Caravan' (1932)
*'Mandarin Gardens' (1933)
*'The Naked Soul: The Story of a Modern Knight' (1933)
*'The Longshore Girl' (1935)
*'The Sunstone' (1936)
*'Ginger Adams' (1937)
*'High-Yaller' (1938)
*'Due East of Friday' (1939)
*'An American at Oxford' (1941)
*'Oxford Goes to War' (1943)
*'Harley Street' (1946)
*'The Story of My Village' (1947)
*'The Land of Little Horses. A Story' (1949)
*'The Man in Armour' (1949)
Story collections
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*'Poppyland' (1914)
*'The North Sea and Other Poems' (1915)
*'Stories East and West: Tales of Men and Women' (1926)
*'The Vengeance of Mynheer Van Lok and Other Stories' (1934)
*'Green Coral' (1935)
*'Old Sailors Never Lie and Other Tales of Land and Sea by One of
Them' (1938)
Poetry
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*'Poems and Ballads' (1910)
*'In a Bonchurch Garden: Poems and Translations' (1937)
Autobiography
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*'Men and Mice' (1942)
*'More Men and Mice' (1945)
Translations
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*'The Poems of François Villon' (1914)
*'Sappho: A New Rendering' (1920)
Stage
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* 'The Blue Lagoon' by Norman MacOwan and Charlton Mann (1920)
Motion pictures
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* 'Garryowen' (1920)
* 'The Man Who Lost Himself' (1920)
* 'Beach of Dreams' (1921)
* 'The Blue Lagoon' (1923)
* 'The Starlit Garden' (1923)
* 'The Reef of Stars' (1923)
* 'Satan's Sister' (1925)
* 'The Man Who Lost Himself' (1941)
* 'The Blue Lagoon' (1949)
* 'The Truth About Spring' (1965)
* 'The Blue Lagoon' (1980)
* 'Return to the Blue Lagoon' (1991)
* 'Blue Lagoon: The Awakening' (2012)
References
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*
*E. A. Malone, "H. de Vere Stacpoole", 'Dictionary of Literary
Biography, Volume 153: Late-Victorian and Edwardian British Novelists,
First Series', edited by G. M. Johnson, Detroit: Gale, 1995, pp.
278-287.
*R. F. Hardin, "The Man Who Wrote 'The Blue Lagoon': Stacpoole's
Pastoral Center", 'English Literature in Transition (1880-1920)', vol.
39, no. 2, 1996, pp. 205-20.
*C. Deméocq, "Henry de Vere Stacpoole aux Kerguelen", 'Carnets de
l'Exotisme', vol. 17-18, 1996, pp. 151-52.
External links
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* [
https://norman.hrc.utexas.edu/fasearch/findingAid.cfm?eadID=00905
Henry De Vere Stacpoole Collection] at the Harry Ransom Center
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