Lionel Johnson

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Lionel Pigot Johnson (15 March 1867 - 4 October 1902) was an English poet, essayist and critic. He was born at Broadstairs, and educated at Winchester College and New College, Oxford, graduating in 1890. He became a Catholic convert in 1891. He lived a rather solitary life in London, dying of a stroke after a fall in the street, though it was said to be a fall from a barstool.

During his lifetime were published his The Art of Thomas Hardy (1894), Poems (1895), Ireland and Other Poems (1897). He was one of the Rhymer's Club.

His poem, The Dark Angel served as one of the influences for the Dark Angels chapter of Space Marines in the Warhammer 40,000 fictional universe. Their Primarch, Lion El'Jonson, is also named after him.

Johnson wrote many notable homosexual poems, most of which are angry and agonized. In 1892, having converted to Catholicism and turned against his friend Oscar Wilde, Johnson directed a sonnet at him called "The Destroyer of a Soul" (presumably the soul of his cousin Lord Alfred Douglas, whom he had introduced to Wilde the previous June). In the following year, Johnson wrote what some consider his masterpiece, "The Dark Angel," rooted in anguish about his homosexuality.

[edit] References

The collected poems of Lionel Johnson (1953) edited by Ian Fletcher, Unicorn Press, London (reprinted 1982).

Post Liminium. Essays and Critical Papers (1911) edited by Thomas Whittemore, Elkin Mathews, London (reprinted 1968).

Persondata
NAME	Johnson, Lionel Pigot
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	Johnson, Lionel
SHORT DESCRIPTION
DATE OF BIRTH	15 March 1867
PLACE OF BIRTH	Broadstairs
DATE OF DEATH	4 October 1902
PLACE OF DEATH