The Divine Fire

The Divine Fire, published in 1904 by May Sinclair, follows Horace Jewdwine, an Oxford don, as he grapples with the potential genius of a young poet, Savage Keith Rickman. The novel explores themes of artistic responsibility, talent, and the complexities of literary patronage through Jewdwine's interactions with his cousin, Lucia Harden, and their discussions about Rickman's precarious position in the literary world. Sinclair's work delves into the struggles of artists and the societal expectations they face, making it a notable exploration of early 20th-century literary culture.