Gilbert Frankau, a renowned British poet and novelist, was born in London, England, in the year 1884. He hailed from a Jewish family, but he made a conscious decision to convert to Anglicanism and was baptized at the tender age of 13. Following his academic pursuits at Eton College, Frankau entered the family cigar business, where he eventually rose to the position of Managing Director.
As World War I broke out in 1914, Frankau left his business endeavors to join the British army. He was commissioned as an officer and was subsequently posted to a field artillery unit in France, where he participated in significant battles such as Ypres, Loos, and the Somme. Frankau's military service came to an abrupt end in 1918 when he was invalided out of the army. Upon his return to England, he discovered that the family cigar business had unfortunately not survived the war.
In the aftermath of his military service, Frankau decided to pursue a career in writing. He had previously gained some experience in writing for various British newspapers during his time in France. Frankau's political beliefs were firmly rooted on the right, and he had aspirations to run for the House of Commons. However, his multiple marriages and divorces, which were viewed as unacceptable by the Conservative Party, ultimately derailed his political ambitions.
Frankau's right-wing politics also worked against him with the general public. In 1933, after Adolf Hitler took power in Germany, Frankau penned an article for the Daily Express titled "As a Jew I am Not Against Hitler." This article did little to enhance his public image, and he later retracted his statement.
Gilbert Frankau passed away from lung cancer in Hove, England, in the year 1952.
