Brooke and Békássy were both members of a secret debating society at Cambridge University, called the Cambridge Conversazione Society, but commonly known as 'The Apostles'. 

 

Members tended to belong to King’s College or Trinity College and they would meet, read aloud papers they had written and discuss subjects such as philosophy, as well as more light-hearted issues. Rupert Brooke read many papers, including one entitled ‘Are the playing at cards and the attendance at the theatre amusements consistent with the character of a clergyman?’

 

Before the outbreak of World War One, in 1914, both Rupert Brooke and Ferenc Békássy had poems printed in Basileon, a King’s College student magazine dating back to 1900  

 

 

Rupert Brooke’s most famous pre-War poem is perhaps ‘The Old Vicarage, Grantchester’. Originally entitled ‘The Sentimental Exile’, it was written during a visit to Berlin in 1909. You can see the first page of ‘The Sentimental Exile’ below, and a full transcript of the poem can be downloaded. 

 

 

Both poems explore pastoral themes and use natural imagery, reflecting the influence of the Neo-Pagans.

 

 

Apostle – one of the twelve followers of Jesus Christ or someone who tries to persuade others to share an idea

Pastoral – an idealised image of the countryside and nature