Rupert Brooke

<p><em>Publisher's Note: An updated expanded and revised edition of this book is now available.</em></p><p> </p><p>Keith Hale editor of <em>Friends & Apostles: The Correspondence of Rupert Brooke and James Strachey 1905-1914</em> here examines the bowdlerization of Brooke in existing biographies and looks into the poet's self-proclaimed bisexual identity. Hale examines the same-sex relationships Brooke enjoyed with Michael Sadleir Charles Lascelles and Denham Russell-Smith as well as the poems Brooke may have written about these early loves. As with many boys of his generation Brooke's public school days affected him more profoundly than any period of his life. During his years at Rugby Brooke was involved in romantic relationships with three boys. In order Denham Russell-Smith entered Rugby in May 1902 age thirteen. Michael Sadleir followed in May 1903 age fourteen making him and Denham the same age. Charles Lascelles entered in May 1904 at age fourteen. Thus two of Brooke's Rugby loves were two years his junior and the boy he appears to have loved most Lascelles was three years younger.</p><p> </p><p>Watersgreen House is an independent international book publisher with editorial staff in the UK and USA. One of our aims at Watersgreen House is to showcase same-sex affection in works by important gay and bisexual authors in ways which were not possible at the time the books were originally published. We also publish nonfiction including textbooks as well as contemporary fiction that is literary unusual and provocative.</p>