The Happy Warrior: Poems by Patrick Hore-Ruthven

Big Sun Press’ second release is a re-publication of Patrick Hore-Ruthven’s (1913-1942) posthumously published collection of poetry, ‘The Happy Warrior’. Captain Hore-Ruthven led a remarkable life as a British Army Officer who served in the nascent British Special Air Service in North Africa in World War II, the son of Australia’s longest serving Governor General. Tragically, his life was cut short in 1942 when he was fatally wounded on a daring raid in Tripolitania, while his father was still serving his term. On the 24th of December 1942, he passed away in Misurata Italian Hospital in Northwestern Libya. A prolific author of prose, his poetry was published in a series of newspapers during his life, and then collated in ‘The Happy Warrior’ in 1943 after his death. The foreword was written by General Sir Henry Maitland Wilson. The preface was written by his mother, Lady Zara Hore-Ruthven. These, along with the original jacket copy, and a new publisher’s note providing further biographic detail, have all been including in this re-production. Describing Patrick Hore-Ruthven’s work, which is remarkable for its breadth of variety and emotional depth, Former Australian Prime Minister and friend-of-the-family Sir Robert Menzies stated: “”These lovely and moving poems were written at odd moments by a young man who was by profession a soldier and who would not have dreamed in ordinary conversation of admitting to you the secret that, while he studied strategy and tactics, he had another world of life in which he could move and hold high talk with the immortals.”” Note: Arrangements will be made for the donation of all profits of the sale of this volume to a charitable cause related to the commemoration of Commonwealth War Dead. —- ISBN: 9798879175301