James Elroy Flecker

Born in London on November 5, 1884, James Elroy Flecker was an English poet, novelist, and playwright. He was educated at Oxford and became especially associated with richly crafted, decorative verse influenced by the Parnassian poets.

Flecker also served in the British consular service, with postings that included the eastern Mediterranean. Travel and his fascination with distant places helped shape some of his most memorable writing, including the atmosphere and imagery that readers still connect with his best-known poem, The Golden Journey to Samarkand.

He died young, on January 3, 1915, at just 30 years old. Even with such a short career, he is remembered for the elegance, color, and dreamlike beauty of his poetry, which continues to attract readers who enjoy lyrical writing with a strong sense of place.