John Addington Symonds

Symonds, picture for Walt Whitman, dated 1889
Symonds by Eveleen Tennant
Symonds by Carlo Orsi

John Addington Symonds Jr. (/ˈsɪməndz/; 5 October 1840 – 19 April 1893) was an English poet and literary critic. A cultural historian, he was known for his work on the Renaissance, as well as numerous biographies of writers and artists. Although married with children, Symonds supported male love (homosexuality), which he believed could include pederastic as well as egalitarian relationships, referring to it as l'amour de l'impossible (love of the impossible).[1] He also wrote much poetry inspired by his same-sex affairs.

  1. ^ McKenna, Neil (2009). The Secret Life of Oscar Wilde. Basic Books. ISBN 9780786734924.