Old Poetry Old Poetry Poetry • Poets • Essays • Forums •

A P Herbert

I lived from 1890-1971. I was from England, and am in the English category.

Alan Patrick Herbert was born in Elstead, Surrey in 1890. After studying law at Oxford University he served in the Royal Navy during the First World War. After the war he published the novel The Secret Battle (1919).

In 1924 Herbert joined Punch Magazine and two years later had his first theatrical success with the production of Riverside Nights. He also wrote the lyrics for Tantivy Towers (1930) and Helen (1932) and published the novels The Water Gipsies (1930), Holy Deadlock and What a Word (1935).

Herbert became the Independent MP for Oxford University in 1935. A campaigner for reform of the marriage and divorce laws, played an important role in the passing of the Matrimonial Causes Act in 1938. He was also a strong supporter of Neville Chamberlain and his Appeasement Policy.

Herbert retired from the House of Commons in 1950. Other books by Herbert included two volumes of autobiography, Independent Member (1950) and My Life and Times (1970). Alan Herbert died in 1971.

Popular poetry

Search my poetry:
1 - 10 of 136  Show all by written, popularity, title, first line
  • At the Theatre: To the Lady Behind Me
    Dear Madam, you have seen this play;
    I never saw it till today.
    25 lines, 2 comments
  • Beaucourt Revisited
    I wandered up to Beaucourt; I took the river track
    And saw the lines we lived in before the Boche went back;
    28 lines, 1 comment
  • The Doctor
    The doctor took my shirt away;
    He did it for the best;
    0 lines, 1 comment
  • 'Salute The Soldier'
    Hail, soldier, huddled in the rain,
    Hail, soldier, squelching through the mud,
    13 lines
  • Hitler's Birthday
    There'll always be a Hitler
    Beside the silver Spree
    9 lines
  • The Perfect Citizen
    O perfect citizen (if you exist),
    Who never make the errors that you might,
    19 lines, 2 comments
  • Go Slow
    Go slow, you raving ass, go slow,
    And do not cut your corners so;
    28 lines
  • The Four Equalities
    'An equal Opportunity for all'!
    All right: but the advantage will be small
    16 lines
  • Woman Power
    They took the maid; they took the cook as well:
    Mamma said 'Splendid! Give the Germans——!
    25 lines
  • The Tower Of Babble
    Some one in Cairo—Cairo, if you please!—
    Reports that Britain is arranging Peace.
    9 lines
1 - 10 of 136  Show all by written, popularity, title, first line

Start a forum topic about this poet

, Content