author
Basil De Selincourt
1876–1966
A thoughtful British essayist and journalist, he wrote lively studies of writers and artists including Walt Whitman, William Blake, and Giotto. His career ranged from classics teaching in Sydney to decades of literary criticism and reflective prose.
1 Audiobook
Pomona; or, the future of English
by Basil De Selincourt
About the author
Born on 19 August 1876, Basil de Sélincourt was a British essayist and journalist known for literary and art criticism written for a general readership. Early in his career he served as Acting Professor of Greek at the University of Sydney and was also president of the Sydney University Union around 1900–1901.
He went on to publish books on figures such as Walt Whitman, William Blake, and Giotto, along with essays on language and culture. His writing is remembered for bringing serious subjects to life in a readable, personal way rather than treating criticism as something only for specialists.
De Sélincourt died on 16 February 1966. Although he is not a widely known name today, his work still offers a window into the literary conversation of the early 20th century and the kind of criticism that tried to connect art, ideas, and everyday readers.