Charles Divine
Encyclopedia
Charles Harding Divine was an American poet and playwright. He was a soldier in the First World War, and his first book of poems in 1918 was praised by reviewers, one of whom said he was one of most important American poets of the day.
(January 20, 1889) and graduated from Cornell University
in 1911, where he worked for The Cornell Daily Sun
and was a member of the Quill and Dagger
society. He worked as a reporter for the New York Sun
until 1916, when he became a full-time writer. In 1917 he enlisted (having being rejected at first for being underweight) and fought in France in the 27th Division. Following the war he published books of poems and plays up to 1936, when he took up farming. Subsequently he was a Senior Instructor in English in Triple Cities College, Endicott, until 1948. He adapted two of his short plays for comedy films. His novel Cognac Hill was about love on the Western Front
. In addition to his books he published more than 100 short stories. Some of his poems were reprinted in magazines during the Second World War and a line from one of them, At the Lavender Lantern (referring to a café in Greenwich Village
), inspired the name of a book Onions in the Stew
. He died May 8, 1950 in Bay Pines, Florida
.
Life
Divine was born in Binghamton, New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
(January 20, 1889) and graduated from Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
in 1911, where he worked for The Cornell Daily Sun
The Cornell Daily Sun
The Cornell Daily Sun is an independent daily newspaper published in Ithaca, New York by students at Cornell University. It is the oldest independent college daily in the United States....
and was a member of the Quill and Dagger
Quill and Dagger
Quill and Dagger is a senior honor society at Cornell University. It is often recognized as one of the most prominent collegiate societies of its type, along with Skull and Bones of Yale University...
society. He worked as a reporter for the New York Sun
New York Sun
The New York Sun was a weekday daily newspaper published in New York City from 2002 to 2008. When it debuted on April 16, 2002, adopting the name, motto, and masthead of an otherwise unrelated earlier New York paper, The Sun , it became the first general-interest broadsheet newspaper to be started...
until 1916, when he became a full-time writer. In 1917 he enlisted (having being rejected at first for being underweight) and fought in France in the 27th Division. Following the war he published books of poems and plays up to 1936, when he took up farming. Subsequently he was a Senior Instructor in English in Triple Cities College, Endicott, until 1948. He adapted two of his short plays for comedy films. His novel Cognac Hill was about love on the Western Front
Western Front (World War I)
Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
. In addition to his books he published more than 100 short stories. Some of his poems were reprinted in magazines during the Second World War and a line from one of them, At the Lavender Lantern (referring to a café in Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village, , , , .in New York often simply called "the Village", is a largely residential neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan in New York City. A large majority of the district is home to upper middle class families...
), inspired the name of a book Onions in the Stew
Onions in the Stew
Onions in the Stew is the fourth in a series of humorous autobiographical books by Betty MacDonald about her life on Vashon Island with her second husband and daughters during the Second World War years...
. He died May 8, 1950 in Bay Pines, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
.
Poetry
- City Ways and Company Streets (1918) Moffat, Yard & Co.
- Gypsy Gold (1923) T. Seltzer
- The Road to Town: A Book of Poems (1925) T. Seltzer
Plays
- Post Mortems: A Comedy of the Bridge Table (1926) D. Appleton & Co.
- Pirtle Drums it in (1926) D. Appleton & Co.
- Love in an Attic: A Play in One Act (1928) S. French Ltd
- Mr. Utley's Etiquette: A Comedy in One Act (1928) S. French Ltd
- Strangers at Home: A Play in Three Acts (1935) S. French Ltd
- Appetite for Adventure: A Comedy in One Act (1936) S. French Ltd