In 1865, Arnold published Essays in Criticism: First Series. Matthew Arnold's grave at All Saints' Church, Laleham, Surrey. He self-published The Popular Education of France (1861), the introduction to which was later published under the title Democracy (1879). In 1859, he conducted the first of three trips to the continent at the behest of parliament to study European educational practices. On Translating Homer (1861) and the initial thoughts that Arnold would transform into Culture and Anarchy were among the fruits of the Oxford lectures.
#GOD HAND GAME ARNOLD SERIES#
In 1854, Poems: Second Series appeared also a selection, it included the new poem, Balder Dead.Īrnold was elected Professor of Poetry at Oxford in 1857, and he was the first in this position to deliver his lectures in English rather than in Latin. In 1853, he published Poems: A New Edition, a selection from the two earlier volumes famously excluding Empedocles on Etna, but adding new poems, Sohrab and Rustum and The Scholar Gipsy.
In 1852, Arnold published his second volume of poems, Empedocles on Etna, and Other Poems. Although his duties were later confined to a smaller area, Arnold knew the society of provincial England better than most of the metropolitan authors and politicians of the day." Literary career Ĭaricature by James Tissot published in Vanity Fair in 1871 But that also meant that he, among the first generation of the railway age, travelled across more of England than any man of letters had ever done. He spent many dreary hours during the 1850s in railway waiting-rooms and small-town hotels, and longer hours still in listening to children reciting their lessons and parents reciting their grievances. "Initially, Arnold was responsible for inspecting Nonconformist schools across a broad swath of central England. Two months later, he married Frances Lucy, daughter of Sir William Wightman, Justice of the Queen's Bench.Īrnold often described his duties as a school inspector as "drudgery" although "at other times he acknowledged the benefit of regular work." The inspectorship required him, at least at first, to travel constantly and across much of England. Wishing to marry but unable to support a family on the wages of a private secretary, Arnold sought the position of and was appointed in April 1851 one of Her Majesty's Inspectors of Schools. In 1850 Wordsworth died Arnold published his "Memorial Verses" on the older poet in Fraser's Magazine. In 1849, he published his first book of poetry, The Strayed Reveller. In 1847, he became Private Secretary to Lord Lansdowne, Lord President of the Council. In 1845, after a short interlude of teaching at Rugby, Arnold was elected Fellow of Oriel College, Oxford. He graduated in the following year with second class honours in Literae Humaniores. His poem Cromwell won the 1843 Newdigate prize. His father died suddenly of heart disease in 1842, and Fox How became the family's permanent residence. He attended John Henry Newman's sermons at the University Church of St Mary the Virgin but did not join the Oxford Movement. During his student years at Oxford, his friendship became stronger with Arthur Hugh Clough, a Rugby pupil who had been one of his father's favourites. In November 1840, aged 17, Arnold matriculated at Balliol College, Oxford, where in 1841 he won an open scholarship, graduating B.A.
He wrote verse for a family magazine, and won school prizes, His prize poem, "Alaric at Rome", was printed at Rugby. He moved to the sixth form in 1838 and so came under the direct tutelage of his father. In 1836, Arnold was sent to Winchester College, but in 1837 he returned to Rugby School.
There William Wordsworth was a neighbour and close friend. In 1834, the Arnolds occupied a holiday home, Fox How, in the Lake District. From 1831, Arnold was tutored by his clerical uncle, John Buckland, in Laleham. In 1828, Thomas Arnold was appointed Headmaster of Rugby School, where the family took up residence, that year. John Keble stood as godfather to Matthew.
He was the eldest son of Thomas Arnold and his wife Mary Penrose Arnold (1791–1873), born on 24 December 1822 at Laleham-on-Thames, Middlesex.