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
Various: Various, ca 1920. 14 Bernard Darwin Golf titles. Golf Between Two Wars 1947 Rubs of the Green 1936 Playing the Like 1934 Out of the Rough 1932 The Games Afoot 1926 Tee Shots 1911 James Braid 1952 Green Memories 1928 British Golf Golfing By-Paths A Round with Darwin Every..... More
Texas: Dormy House Press, 2014. 421p. Half Leather. Limited subscribers edition about 120 copies only. Compiled by Dick Verinder. Foreword Donald Steel. Delightful anthology of 1920's Times essays, hours of please are ahead of the next fortunate owner of this tomb of Darwiniana. A very limited edition, subscriber only volumes..... More
London: Country Life, ca 1920. 19pp, text, 19 mounted plates, plus 1 extra. Limited edition No. 103/500 signed by Darwin. The plates, designed to be framed, and very impressive art work they would become, So to find this in its original state, in the rare limited edition and in pristine..... More
London: Cassell and Co, Ltd., 1935. 230p, cloth.
John Gully was an English prize-fighter, horse racer and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1832 to 1837.
I remarkable character and no doubt a hero of the author.
Very scarce dust jacket in excellent condition. More
London: Chapman & Hall, 1934. 246p, dec. cloth edition no spine fade, slight foxing on first few pages and a little rubbing on corners and spine, contents very good. D&J D6100.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..... More
Bristol: E.S & A Robinson, 1945. 72p. cloth. Centenary story of a paper company later (after merging in the 1960's) would become the worlds largest. Darwin was friends with the owners. More
Texas: Dormy House Press, 2013. 391p. Half Leather. Limited subscribers edition about 200 copies only. Compiled by Dick Verinder. Foreword Jeff Silverman. Dedicated to David Normoyle. 1930's Times articles, all never otherwise published, this period in Darwins career saw a shift from just reporting about golf tournaments to writing essays..... 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..... More
London: Hodder & Stoughton, ca 1921. 309p, cloth Illustrated by G.W. Beldham first half is by Duncan second by Darwin, mainly instructional. D&J D20230.More
London: Hodder & Stoughton, ca 1921. 309p, cloth Illustrated by G.W. Beldam first half is by Duncan second by Darwin, mainly instructional. D&J D20230.More
London: A.N. Holden, 1950. 72p. cloth. Dust jacket. Receipts from around the UK, old fashioned. 4 page introduction from Darwin to get your appetite going. 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: 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: Cassel & Company Ltd., 1952. 312p, cloth. 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: Cassel & Company Ltd, 1952. 312p, 10¾x8, green cloth, gilt-lettered morocco spine label. First Edition. 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..... More
London: Cassel & Company Ltd., 1952. 312p, cloth. 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: 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
London: Collins, 1943. 48p, cloth. Second impression. While not strictly a golf book, golf content is contained, Blackheath and St Andrews are noted along with many mainly London non golf clubs.
Dust Jacket. More
London: Collins, 1946. 47p, dec. cloth.
Excellent Darwin treatise on golf, ancient and modern.
Inscription. Gifted to Percy in 1948 from ? Part of the Percy Boomer golf library. D&J D4540.More