author

Guy Christian Barnard

1896–1976

Best known for writing on both literary criticism and psychical research, this little-known twentieth-century author moved easily between close readings of major writers and big questions about the mind. His books range from studies of Percy Bysshe Shelley and Samuel Beckett to an ambitious examination of psychic phenomena.

1 Audiobook

The psychology of the poet Shelley

The psychology of the poet Shelley

by Edward Carpenter, Guy Christian Barnard

About the author

Published across several decades, Guy Christian Barnard was a British writer and critic whose work crossed more than one field. He is associated with literary studies as well as psychical research, showing an unusual mix of interests that set him apart from more narrowly specialized critics.

Among the books linked to him are The Supernormal: A Critical Introduction to Psychic Science (1933), The Psychology of the Poet Shelley (written with Edward Carpenter), and Samuel Beckett: A New Approach (1970). Taken together, these works suggest a writer drawn to both the inner life of literature and the mysteries of consciousness.

Reliable biographical detail about Barnard himself appears to be scarce online, so a full life story is hard to confirm. What does come through clearly is the range of his writing: thoughtful, curious, and willing to explore subjects that sit at the edge of literature, psychology, and the paranormal.