Gerald Palmer (author)
Gerald Eustace Howell Palmer (9 June 1904 – 7 February 1984) was a United Kingdom author, book translator, and Conservative Party politician. Palmer's work in translating the Philokalia, an Eastern Orthodox spiritual text, is still recognised in modern times with the popularity of that book.
Eastern Orthodox writings
Palmer helped translate several
Palmer's attraction to Eastern Orthodox teachings caused him to go on a pilgrimage in 1948 toPalmer made almost yearly pilgrimages to Mt. Athos. He wrote an article on his journeys titled The Paths of Athos,[3] published in Eastern Churches Review in 1977.[1]
Political career
He was Member of Parliament (MP) for
After losing his seat in parliament in the 1945 election, Palmer travelled to Mount Athos, which led to a deepening interest in Greek Orthodoxy. He spent much of the rest of his life working on translations of key Orthodox texts.
Committees
Palmer served on the Council of
Personal life
Born to Eustace Exall Palmer of Drayton House at Sherfield on Loddon in Hampshire, a director of Huntley & Palmers biscuits, and his wife, Madeline Mary Howell, at Reading in Berkshire.[5] Gerald Palmer was the grandson of Alfred Palmer (1852–1936) who had graduated with a Doctor of Science (D.Sc.). He too was President of the Council of the University of Reading. Alfred was also director of Huntley & Palmer's biscuits, a county magistrate then High Sheriff in 1905 and lived at Wokefield Park; his father in turn was George Palmer MP.[6]
He was educated at Winchester College, Hampshire then New College, Oxford. He was Private Secretary to the Prime Minister in 1935 and also that year a Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State to the Home Office in 1935. He fought in World War II and was mentioned in despatches. He gained the rank of captain in the service of the Royal Artillery. He was jointly PPS to the Secretary of State Colonies in 1942 and the Lord Privy Seal.[6] His brother was the cricketer Rodney Palmer.
He died in 1984 at his home, Bussock Mayne at Winterbourne near Newbury in Berkshire.
Partial list of works
- Palmer, G. E. H. (1977). "The Paths of Athos". Eastern Churches Review. 9 (1–2).[1]
- Palmer, G. E. H.; Makarios, Saint Metropolitan of Corinth; Nicodemus, the Hagiorite Saint; E Kadloubovsky (1951). Writings from the Philokalia on prayer of the heart. London: Faber and Faber.[7]
- Palmer, G. E. H.; Makarios, Saint Metropolitan of Corinth; Nicodemus, the Hagiorite Saint; E Kadloubovsky (1954). Early Fathers from the Philokalia : together with some writings of St. Abba Dorotheus, St. Isaac of Syria, and St. Gregory Palamas. London: Faber and Faber.[7]
- Palmer, G. E. H.; Makarios, Saint Metropolitan of Corinth; Nicodemus, the Hagiorite Saint; E Kadloubovsky (1952). Unseen warfare : the 'Spiritual combat' and 'Path to Paradise' of Lorenzo Scupoli. London: Faber and Faber.[7]
- Palmer, G. E. H.; Kallistos Ware; Philip Sherrard (1973–1995). Philokalia: The Complete Text. London: Faber and Faber.[7]
Notes
- ^ ISBN 978-3-03911-337-8.
- ^ Patrick Comerford. "Stratis the Mariner finds landfall in English George Seferis: Complete Poems, ed. Edmund Keeley and Philip Sherrard, Anvil Press, 296pp, 9.95 in UK." The Irish Times. 1995. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 31 March 2002. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link). - ^ Palmer, G. E. H. (1977). "The Paths of Athos". Eastern Churches Review. 9 (1–2).
- ^ "Player profile: Gerald Palmer". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 November 2011.
- ^ Births Sep 1904 volume 2c page 348
- ^ a b Rootsweb World Connect
- ^ a b c d "Palmer, G. E. H. (Gerald Eustace Howell) 1904–". WorldCat. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
References
- ISBN 0-900178-06-X.
- Leigh Rayment's Peerage Pages [better source needed]