Laurence Housman

Name: Angels and Ministers, and Other Victorian Plays
Author: Laurence Housman

Biographical details

Laurence Housman (1865–1959) was a British playwright, author, and illustrator celebrated for his contributions to literature, social reform, and the suffrage movement. His work encompasses dramatic plays such as Victoria Regina and An Englishwoman’s Love-Letters, children’s stories, and illustrated works, frequently intertwining Christian themes with pacifist and feminist values.

A prominent figure in the Suffrage Atelier, he combined art with activism, producing propaganda that inspired women. His legacy resides in uniting creative expression with advocacy for equality, leaving a diverse impact on both theatre and progressive causes.

Quotes by Laurence Housman

Laurence Housman, The Blue Moon

“ Did I not love thee under the plum-tree, Gamma-gata? Ask of Heaven, therefore, that a child may be born to me—ever so small let it be—and Bimsha will become dumb. Gamma-gata, it is a very little thing that I am asking!”
All day long she let her kite go farther up into the sky than all the other kites. Overhead the wind sang in their strings like bees, or like the thin cry of very small children; but Katipah’s was so far away she could scarcely see it against the blue. “Gamma-gata,” she cried; till the twilight drew sea and land together, and she was left alone. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

Laurence Housman, An Englishwoman's Love-Letters

“ Dearest, I lay my heart down on yours and cry: and having worn myself out with it and ended, I kiss your lips and bless God that I have known you.
I have not said—I never could say it—"Let the day perish wherein Love was born!" I forget nothing of you: you are clear to me,—all but one thing: why we have become as we are now, one whole, parted and sent different ways. And yet so near! On my most sleepless nights my pillow is yours: I wet your face with my tears and cry, "Sleep well."
To-night also, Beloved, sleep well! Night and morning I make you my prayer. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

Laurence Housman, An Englishwoman's Love-Letters

“ Oh, you, the sun in my dear heavens—if I lose you, what is left of me? Could you break so to pieces even a woman you did not love? And me you do love,—you do. Between all this denial of me, and all this silence of words that you have put your name to, I see clearly that you are still my lover.—Your writing breaks with trying not to say it: you say again and again that there is no fault in me. I swear to you, dearest, there is none, unless it be loving you: and how can you mean that? For what are you and I made for unless for each other? With all our difference people tell us we are alike. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

Laurence Housman, Moonshine & Clover

“ It seemed to grow and grow and grow, dislocating his bones, and thrusting aside his heart to make room for itself. Its wings seemed to be sawing out his ribs, and its head was pushed far up into his throat, where with its angry beak it seemed reaching to peck out his eyes. "I will torment you for ever," said the bird. "You shall have no peace until you let me go. I am the King of the Cuckoos; I will give you no rest. You will be surprised at what I can do to you; even in your despair you will be surprised." ”

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Source: Gutenberg

Laurence Housman, Ploughshare and Pruning-hook (1919)

“ He who does unkindness to others is unkind to his own soul; he who diminishes the self-possession of others diminishes his own.
Yet possession—in the sense of realising each one for himself the wealth and enjoyment which life has to offer—is so deep an instinct, is so knit up with the adventurous and progressive spirit out of which the higher human consciousness is built—that it is useless to turn on man and say to him: "Possess nothing—rid yourself of all joys, of all the delights of the senses and the understanding—so only shall you attain to the heavenly stature." ”

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Source: Wikisource

Laurence Housman, Angels and Ministers, and Other Victorian Plays

“ PARNELL. Love and politics never do. Do you think I've loved any of my party-followers: that any of them have loved me?
KATHARINE. Doesn't—O'Kelly?
PARNELL. He's gone now—with the rest.
KATHARINE. Didn't Mr. Biggar?
PARNELL. Dead.... No.
KATHARINE. Still, you love—Ireland.
PARNELL. Not as she is to-day—so narrow and jealous, so stupid, so blind! Has she anything alive in her now worth saving? That Ireland has got to die; and, though it doesn't sound like it, this is the death-rattle beginning. Ireland is going to fail, and deserves to fail. But another Ireland won't fail. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

Laurence Housman, An Englishwoman's Love-Letters

“ I do not live till you have kissed me again. Oh, my beloved, how cruel love may seem if we do not trust it enough! My trust in you has come back in a great rush of warmth, like a spring day after frost. I almost laugh as I let this go. It brings you,—perhaps before I wake: I shall be so tired to-night. Call under my window, make me hear in my sleep. I will wake up to you, and it shall be all over before the rest of the world wakes. There is no dream so deep that I shall not hear you out of the midst of it. Come and be my morning-glory to-morrow without fail. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

Laurence Housman, The Blue Moon

“ Ah, foolish ones, I go now, for Gamma-gata calls me, and I am no longer afraid: I go to travel in many lands, whither he carries me, and it will be long before I return here. Many dark days are coming to you, when you shall not feel the west wind, the bearer of fine weather, blowing over you from land to sea; nor shall you see the blossoms open white over the hills, nor feel the earth grow warm as the summer comes in, because the bringer of fair weather is angry with you for the foolishness which you have done. ”

Laurence Housman

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