John Donaldson (author)
Encyclopedia
John Donaldson also known as Jon Inglis, was a British
author and poet most particularly associated in later life with Oxford
, England
.
, probably in 1920–21, and was sent to an orphanage
at the age of five when his mother, working as a prostitute, could no longer deal with an expanding household of children. At the orphanage, he experienced cold, hunger and abuse, and as soon as he legally could he left to become the challenger in a mobile boxing booth.
He joined the Pioneer Corps at outbreak of World War II
and was captured by the Germans
during the retreat to Dunkirk
; in consequence he spent the whole war in prison camps, where he began writing poetry. He later novelised his early life under the title Forever Endeavour.
After the war, he became a successful and respected businessman, but in the 1970s he left his home, his work and family to live in London
with no possessions, spending nights on the streets or sleeping under bridges, and speaking at Hyde Park
's Speaker's Corner on the insubstantial nature of power and acquisition. This period was later novelised as Season of the Butterfly, published after his death by his second wife.
Aside from the novels, John Donaldson (as he became known) wrote a very large corpus of philosophical aphorisms, together with poems, and plays. He was a recognised figure around Oxford
in his latter years, and the majority of his great quantity of writings are held, though still unpublished, at the Oxfordshire Archives.
The poet Kathleen Raine
wrote to John's wife:
"John Donaldson was indeed a brave and remarkable man... There is real vision in his poems... I can understand what was in John's mind when he gave himself totally to seeking to bring about the only revolution that can change the world, A CHANGE OF HEART IN PEOPLE, ordinary people everywhere."
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
author and poet most particularly associated in later life with Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Life
Jon Inglis was born into poverty in NewcastleNewcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
, probably in 1920–21, and was sent to an orphanage
Orphanage
An orphanage is a residential institution devoted to the care of orphans – children whose parents are deceased or otherwise unable or unwilling to care for them...
at the age of five when his mother, working as a prostitute, could no longer deal with an expanding household of children. At the orphanage, he experienced cold, hunger and abuse, and as soon as he legally could he left to become the challenger in a mobile boxing booth.
He joined the Pioneer Corps at outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and was captured by the Germans
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
during the retreat to Dunkirk
Battle of Dunkirk
The Battle of Dunkirk was a battle in the Second World War between the Allies and Germany. A part of the Battle of France on the Western Front, the Battle of Dunkirk was the defence and evacuation of British and allied forces in Europe from 26 May–4 June 1940.After the Phoney War, the Battle of...
; in consequence he spent the whole war in prison camps, where he began writing poetry. He later novelised his early life under the title Forever Endeavour.
After the war, he became a successful and respected businessman, but in the 1970s he left his home, his work and family to live in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
with no possessions, spending nights on the streets or sleeping under bridges, and speaking at Hyde Park
Hyde Park, London
Hyde Park is one of the largest parks in central London, United Kingdom, and one of the Royal Parks of London, famous for its Speakers' Corner.The park is divided in two by the Serpentine...
's Speaker's Corner on the insubstantial nature of power and acquisition. This period was later novelised as Season of the Butterfly, published after his death by his second wife.
Aside from the novels, John Donaldson (as he became known) wrote a very large corpus of philosophical aphorisms, together with poems, and plays. He was a recognised figure around Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
in his latter years, and the majority of his great quantity of writings are held, though still unpublished, at the Oxfordshire Archives.
The poet Kathleen Raine
Kathleen Raine
Kathleen Jessie Raine was a British poet, critic, and scholar writing in particular on William Blake, W. B. Yeats and Thomas Taylor. Known for her interest in various forms of spirituality, most prominently Platonism and Neoplatonism, she was a founder member of the Temenos Academy.-Life:Raine was...
wrote to John's wife:
"John Donaldson was indeed a brave and remarkable man... There is real vision in his poems... I can understand what was in John's mind when he gave himself totally to seeking to bring about the only revolution that can change the world, A CHANGE OF HEART IN PEOPLE, ordinary people everywhere."
External links
- OxfordPoet.com is a resource for his major works.
- The Oxfordshire County Archives, repository of his original papers.