Decadence, Homosexuality and Catholicism in the Life of John Gray

Georgia State University ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University English Dissertations Department of English Fall 12-16-2019 "Enough of the World is Mine": Decadence, Homosexuality and Catholicism in the Life of John Gray Lewis Whitaker Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/english_diss Recommended Citation Whitaker, Lewis, ""Enough of the World is Mine": Decadence, Homosexuality and Catholicism in the Life of John Gray." Dissertation, Georgia State University, 2019. https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/english_diss/229 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Department of English at ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University. It has been accepted for inclusion in English Dissertations by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. “ENOUGH OF THE WORLD IS MINE”: DECADENCE, HOMOSEXUALITY AND CATHOLICISM IN THE LIFE OF JOHN GRAY by LEWIS H. WHITAKER Under the Direction of LeeAnne Richardson, PhD ABSTRACT This project follows the life of the late-Victorian poet John Gray, who was born into lower- middle class poverty in London. Gray educated himself, rising from clerical positions with the Post Office and the Foreign Office, before meeting Charles Ricketts and Charles Shannon, who published his early work, and designed the seminal book of fin de siècle verse Silverpoints, for which Gray earned the epithet le plus decadent des decadents. This project considers the ways in which Gray’s associations with Ricketts and Shannon, along with Oscar Wilde, André Raffalovich and the aunt and niece couple writing as Michael Field impacted his life, from the publication of his early decadent poetry, to his renunciation of the London demimonde, to eventual ordination in the Roman Catholic Church. It demonstrates the ways in which Gray’s aesthetic merely changed focus, and how his life was ruled by aesthetics, homoeroticism and Catholicism. INDEX WORDS: Decadence, Aestheticism, Roman Catholicism, Symbolism , Homosexuality, Homosociality, John Gray, Oscar Wilde, Michael Field, André Raffalovich, Max Nordau, Social Class, John Ruskin, Decadence, Walter Pater, Charles Ricketts, Charles Shannon, Katherine Bradley, Edith Cooper, Arthur Symons, John Addington Symonds, Dandy, Paul Verlaine, Stéphane Mallarmé, Symbolism “ENOUGH OF THE WORLD IS MINE”: DECADENCE, HOMOSEXUALITY AND CATHOLICISM IN THE LIFE OF JOHN GRAY by LEWIS H. WHITAKER A Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the College of Arts and Sciences Georgia State University 2019 Copyright by Lewis H. Whitaker 2019 “ENOUGH OF THE WORLD IS MINE”: DECADENCE, HOMOSEXUALITY AND CATHOLICISM IN THE LIFE OF JOHN GRAY by LEWIS H. WHITAKER Committee Chair: LeeAnne Richardson Committee: Paul Schmidt Tanya Caldwell Electronic Version Approved: Office of Graduate Studies College of Arts and Sciences Georgia State University December 2019 iv DEDICATION “Over our heads will float the Blue Bird singing of beautiful and impossible things, of things that are lovely and that never happen, of things that are not and that should be” – Oscar Wilde The Decay of Lying For Patty. vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am profoundly aware that if I have seen further in this project it is only because of the dedicated work of two very different scholars. Fr. John Gray would have slipped into obscurity if not for the pioneering work of the late Fr. Brocard Sewell. Fr. Sewell’s Two Friends, In the Dorian Mode, and Footnote to the Nineties demonstrated the importance of Gray’s life and helped fill out the texture of Late-Victorian culture. His kindness and generosity to junior scholars, especially regarding the minor poets and figures of the fin de siècle is well known; I only regret that I did not have the pleasure of knowing him. The first critical response to Fr. Sewell, done by Dr. Jerusha McCormack in her John Gray: Poet, Dandy and Priest, inspired my interest in Gray and his circle. Dr. McCormack’s kind and gentle (yet also firm) advice during the middle and later part of this project has been invaluable. She has offered wisdom, practical knowledge of the material, and much needed personal support. She graciously offered access to her personal files, and never tired of questions that were usually tangential. I am thankful that this scholar, whom I admire greatly, has become a trusted friend. Dr. McCormack talked me off numerous ledges and gave kind and generous support. Beyond these two important early scholars of Gray, Dr. Frederick Roden’s paper on John Gray, given at the 1999 MLA Convention, encapsulated my particular interests that I hope are demonstrated in this project. Dr. Roden’s great knowledge in Victorian spirituality and sexuality, and his deft hand at editing have greatly strengthened my own arguments. His friendship over the years, his advice, and his guidance over the course of this project has been invaluable. vi I am indebted to scholars around the globe who have offered encouragement, support, advice and guidance. Dr. Marion Thain, Dr. Sharon Bickle, Prof. Jad Adams, Dr. Laurence Senelick, Dr. Joseph Bristow and Prof. Patrick Healey in particular have been gracious in sharing their knowledge. Dr. Michael Turnbull offered invaluable assistance and information on St. Peter’s Church in Edinburgh, a subject that lies close to his heart, and answered numerous questions. Mr. Andrew Thackrey helped fill in details about the history of the church, and Mr. J.C.M. Nolan helped me understand what has been lost. Research librarians at the National Library of Scotland; Pluscarden Abbey in Elgin, Scotland; Lambeth Palace, London; the Scottish Catholic Archives, Edinburgh; Georgia State University; Georgia Perimeter College, particularly the late Mr. Kip Cates and Mrs. Rebecca Rose; the University of Connecticut at Stamford, particularly Ms. Erika McNeil and the entire staff of the Interlibrary Loan Department who responded with near lightning speed to odd requests; the William Andrews Clark Jr. Library at the University of California, Los Angeles, particularly Mr. Scott Jacobs, and Ms. Carol Sommer; and the Berg Collection at the New York Public Library, particularly Mr. Stephen Crook, have kindly answered tedious and niggling questions about obscure points. Mr. Jay Barksdale and Ms. Melanie Locay offered the hospitality of the Wertheim Study at the New York Public Library, and graciously extended my time when outside pressures pulled me away. The community of graduate students at Georgia State University read and commented on drafts of this work, often in completely different forms. In particular, Pete Rorabaugh, Natasha Walker, Juliette Kitchens, Jennifer Forsthoefel, Robin Kemp, Anna Paige Rogers, Bobby Burns, Adam Wood, Angela Christie, Melissa McLeod, Sophie Weeks, Vickie Willis, Julie Hawk vii and numerous others were supportive of my work and provided necessary balance when it was desperately needed. Renée Love and Susan Thomas offered limitless love and support despite the many miles which separate us. Karen Taylor is one the most talented (and ruthless) editors I’ve had the pleasure of working with; Michael Sugarman shared my first research project on John Gray. During the early days of this project, these two friendships sustained me in ways I shall never be able to express. The members of the Rocky Mountain Division of the American Society of Aesthetics, and in particular Dr. Linda Dove, Dr. George Moore, Dr. Carol Gould and the late Dr. Michael Manson provided an environment for me to try out early versions of these chapters and modeled collegiality, professionalism and scholarly rigor. My association with this group has been the most valuable professional association of my graduate career. Other professional organizations such as the Rocky Mountain MLA, the Midwest Victorian Studies Association, the Research Society for Victorian Periodicals, the 1890s’s Society, and the International Congress for Medieval Studies offered suggestions and advice. The VICTORIA mailing list was a source of camaraderie and helped with peripheral questions about the period. My dissertation committee patiently dealt with the many intrusions of extra-ordinary circumstances as well as laziness into the completion of this project. Dr. LeeAnne Richardson first introduced me to fin de siècle literature and culture and encouraged my early work on John Gray. As my dissertation chair, she offered cogent advice and always carefully tempered criticism with praise and humor. Her help with Michael Field was critical for the chapter on these two women, who were difficult subjects to wrangle. Dr. Paul Schmidt explained the viii complexities of Victorian religion, encouraged my research efforts, and allowed me to work out difficult approaches to the period and the material. Finally, I will never be able to adequately thank Dr. Tanya Caldwell, who is responsible for resurrecting this project. Dr. Caldwell stepped in when all seemed lost and assured me that I had something important to say. She offered unflagging support not only for the project but also for me and my personal wellbeing and helped smooth the way toward completion. The support of these three mentors, guides, scholars, colleagues, and friends always went above and what would normally be indicated, and if I have any confidence as a writer, I owe it to them. Faculty and staff members at Georgia State University offered vital assistance. Dr. Tammy Mills, Ms. Gabriela McNicholl, Ms. Amber Amari, and Ms. Joyce Kane assisted with navigating department, college, and university requirements. Dr. Calvin Thomas and Dr. Chris Kocela, Directors of Graduate Studies in the Department of English, offered support and numerous extensions. Mr. Tony Martin helped with formatting the works cited page and terminal notes. The monastic communities of New Skete in Cambridge, New York; Belmont Abbey in Belmont, North Carolina; St. Joseph’s Abbey in Spencer, Massachusetts; Gethsemani Abbey near Bardstown, Kentucky; and especially the Order of Julian of Norwich in White Lake, WI provided respite, care, and the gift of silence, as well as safe and conducive spaces to work.

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