Bernard Richard Meirion Darwin, C.B. E (for services to literature and sport) was born on September 7, 1876 and died on October 18, 1961, age 85. He was the first grandchild of the famed naturalist Charles Darwin, and the only son of Francis Darwin and Amy Ruck Darwin who died shortly after Bernard’s birth. To his friends and admirers he was known as Bernardo. Eighty five years is a long life span especially for one born in the Victorian era. Incredible as it seems, his tiny heart started beating in the month young Tommy Morris died and continued beating into the dawn of Jack Nicklaus’s reign.
Bernardo was the first writer to be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. He was also a top-of-the-tree Amateur golfer: Captain of the Cambridge golf team; founding member of The Oxford and Cambridge Golfing Society; member of at least 28 golf clubs and captain of several including The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews. Darwin played, and won, his singles match over the United States Captain in the first Walker Cup Match. He also waged war (a true ‘Hyde’ when on the green) in 26 British Amateur Championships over five decades (his last at age 59) reaching the semi-finals twice.
Bernardo was many things to many people, some of whom couldn’t care less about golf. Contemporary eminent scholars considered Bernard Darwin to be the greatest living essayist in the English language. Although graduating from Cambridge with a Law degree, and ‘enduring too many years’ practicing as a barrister and a solicitor, he began to write in 1902 about his true love – golf. And he never stopped. His last article appeared in Golf Monthly (UK) the month he died. Most of his writings were for Country Life (UK) magazine and The Times newspaper concurrently from 1907 through 1961. But he had many other loves. Literature permeated whatever subject he was drawn to that day; witness his frequent quotes from Charles Dickens, Sir Walter Scott, Wilke Collins, Sir Arthur Conon Doyle, Robert Louis Stevenson, just to name a few masters. Although most of his articles, essays, and books were about golf a surprising, almost shocking, percentage were not: for example ‘Fourth Leader’ editorials in The Times, and ‘A Casual Commentary’ articles in Country Life were about subjects as diverse as cricket, elephants, public schools, children, war, foot racing, prize-fighters, railroads, gypsies, murders, zoos, circus art, etc.
He and wife Elinor (nie Monsell, from Ireland) raised their family in Downe Village, Kent, barely one mile from his childhood home, Down House. Their children inherited talent from their parents: drawing and engraving from Mama, writing and singing from Papa. Their oldest child was Ursula Francis Elinor Mommens (1908 – 2010) who became a well-known potter. Sir Robert Vere Darwin, ‘Robin’ (1910 – 1974) became an artist, educator, and Rector of the Royal College of Art. Nicola Mary Elizabeth Fenn (1916 – 1975) was a classical soprano. ‘Niccy’ was born shortly before Bernard left for Macedonia to serve as a Major in the King’s Army during ‘The Great War’.
In short, Bernard Darwin liked to admit that he was blessed to earn a living while doing the things he liked best. Bernardo and Eily rest in peace in St Mary the Virgin Churchyard in Downe.
Dick Verinder, Editor Dormy House Press Washington, Texas
Droitwich: Grant Books, 1996. 81p. leather, slipcase. 6/125 ltd. ed. signed by Piper.Signed by Geoffrey Piper on the limitation page. Also, signed by Joyce Wethered at end of her introduction (in form of a letter). D&J B45730.More
Carnoustie, Scotland: Privately Printed, 1937. 52p, illustrated wrappers. foreword by James Wright. Bernard Darwin article, the Romance of Carnoustie. Unusual green wrappers, normally beige. Contents good and clean free of any markings. D&J C5530.More
1940. 42p, illus. wrapps. Various sports are covered including golf. One of the "British Life and Though" series. Hard to find war time publication. More
London: Country Life, ca 1920. 19pp, text, 19 mounted plates, plus 1 extra. Limited edition No. 21/500 signed by Darwin. The plates, designed to be framed, and very impressive art work they would become, to find this in its original state, in the rare limited edition and in good condition..... More
London: Country Life, 1938. 79pp. cloth. In conjunction as issustrater with Elinor Darwin, the last of their small series of delightful children's books.The scarce Jacket is still present, More
London: Chapman & Hall, 1934. 246p, dec. cloth edition no spine fade, contents very good.Additionaly to essays published in The Times and Country Life, Playing the Like "contains a number of rather longer essays, which are new, and, in particular, a series called "Heroes of Old" These consist of sketches..... More
Washington, Texas: Dormy House Press, 2015. 59p. illus. cloth. 1st ed. ltd to 200 copies only signed and numbered by the publisher Dick Verinder and Editor Neil Crafter.In 1913 The Times of London planned to publish six small books on a diverse range of topics in what was called The..... More
New York: Harper and Brothers, 1935. 42p. 22 coloured illustrations, paper boards. Very Good condition, we have rerely seen a better copy, pages immaculate. This the third and final of the series written and illustrated by the Darwins.In 1906 he married Irish born artist, Elinor Mary Monsell (1879-1954) and found..... More
London: The Nonesuch Press, 1925. 44p. paper boards. Fine condition, we have never seen a better copy, pages immaculate. This the first of the series written and illustrated by the Darwins.FIRST EDITION. Oblong 4to. 10.5 x 7.5 inches. Unpaginated, [2] + [44] pp. (2 pp.letterpress captions and verse to each..... More
London: The Nonesuch Press, 1927. 42p. 22 coloured illustrations, paper boards. Very Good condition, we have rerely seen a better copy, pages immaculate. This the second of the series written and illustrated by the Darwins.In 1906 he married Irish born artist, Elinor Mary Monsell (1879-1954) and found time to write..... More
London: Cassel & Company Ltd., 1952. 312 pp. Foreword by Sir George Cunningham (Captain of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, 1950-51). Illustrated from photographs and reproductions, some in colour, including frontispiece; 5 golf course maps in back, one of which is folding. 10¾x8, green cloth, gilt-lettered..... More
London: Williams and Norgate LTD., 1926. The Story of the matches by Bernard Darwin and reminiscences of every match since 1861 by an actual player in the game.Limited edition 35/325. More
London: Collins, 1943. 48p, cloth. While not strickly a golf book, golf content is contained, Blackheath and St Andrews are noted along with many mainly London non golf clubs. More
England: GWR, 1947. A Century of Medical Service the story of the Great Western Railway Medical Fund Society 1847 - 1947. Hard to find Darwin Title. More
London: The Travel Association of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1946. 8pp (folder). Illustrated by Rowland Hill. Excellent condition. D&J D4660.More
London: Mills and Boon, 1922. 142p, + 16 ads.cloth. Excellent early essays culled from "The Times". Good condition for this title, all Gilt on spine and front cover intact, no fading to spine, no foxing, corners a little bumped. Good copy of a rare book. D&J D4000.More