14 May 2012

Thomas Hood's Grave, Kensal Green Cemetery, London


'HE SANG THE SONG OF THE SHIRT

IN MEMORY
OF
THOMAS HOOD
BORN 23RD. MAY 1798.
DIED
3RD. MAY 1845.
–––––––––––––––
ERECTED
BY
PUBLIC SUBSCRIPTION
A. D. 1854

ALSO OF JANE HOOD, HIS WIFE.
BORN 6TH. NOV. 1792. DIED 4TH. DEC. 1846.

This monument was designed by Matthew Noble.

Paths of Glory, the excellent guide book to the cemetery published by the Friends of Kensal Green Cemetery, mentions that the poet 'once mortgaged his brain with his publishers in return for a cash advance'. Not exactly certain what that means. Anyway, the sorry sight above is a void where a relief once was: there were two, one representing a scene from 'The Bridge of Sighs', the other The Dream of Eugene Aram, the Murderer, but they were stolen some time ago.

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