Sydney Thompson Dobell

Sydney Thompson Dobell was born on the 5th of April 1824 at Cranbrook in Kent, England.
His father was a wine merchant and his mother was a daughter of the political reformer, Samuel Thompson. The family moved to Cheltenham when Dobell was twelve years old. Dobell was privately educated and never attended formal school or university; a fact he refers to in "Some Lines On Cheltenham College In Imitation Of Chaucer which he write in 1842.
He was engaged to Emily Fordham in 1839 at the age of 15 and married her 5 years later.
Sydney met the politician Mr James Stansfeld (later Sir James) and George Dawson, a Preacher and politician from Birmingham, and their influence gave the young Dobell an enthusiasm for liberalism.
At this time Dobell was writing some poetry and did have one book published. The Roman appeared in 1850 under the nom-de-plume of Sydney Yendys. The following year Dobell and his wife travelled to Switzerland. On their return he struck up a friendship with Robert Browning and a number of other luminaries such as Philip Bailey, George MacDonald, Emanuel Deutsch, Lord Houghton, Ruskin, Holman Hunt, Mazzini, Tennyson and Carlyle. He also published his second long poem, Balder in 1854
The next three years were spent in Scotland and his closest friendship at this time was with Alexander Smith. He and Smith collaborated on a book containing a number of sonnets about the Crimean War published in 1855. This was followed by a volume on England in a time of war.
Although not very rich himself he did endeavour to assist more needt writers and it was with Dobel’s help that David Gray was able to publish his book of poetry. An active man who enjoyed riding Dobel had an unfortunate accident at this time when his horse fell and rolled over him. The subsequent problems meant he was effectively an invalid for the rest of his life.
Professor Aytoun, a literary critic of the time, grouped a number of poets into a group he labelled The Spasmodic School ( a name that Carlyle had earlier used to label Byron). Aytoun included George Gilfillan, Philip James Bailey, John Stanyan Bigg, Alexander Smith, Gerald Massey and Dobell in this grouping. The main feature of the group was said to be an undercurrent of discontent with the mystery of existence, characterised by vain efforts, unrewarded struggle, sceptical unrest, and an uneasy straining after the unattainable. The writings of this group are marked by a preponderance of metaphor and extravagant language. However they were also regarded as fresh and original.

As a poet Dobell belongs to the spasmodic school, as it was named by Professor Aytoun, who parodied its style in Firmilian. The epithet, however, was first applied by Carlyle to Byron. The school includes George Gilfillan, Philip James Bailey, John Stanyan Bigg (1826-1865), Dobell, Alexander Smith, and, according to some critics, Gerald Massey. It was characterized by an under-current of discontent with the mystery of existence, by vain effort, unrewarded struggle, sceptical unrest, and an uneasy straining after the unattainable. It thus faithfully reflected a certain phase of 19th century thought.
Dobell died on 22nd August 1874.
Dobell's suggestive, but too ornate prose writings were collected and edited with an introductory note by John Nichol (Thoughts on Art, Philosophy and Religion) in 1876.