Special Collections and Archives
Jocelyn Brooke (1908-1966) was a poet, naturalist and literary critic who wrote several semi-autobiographical novels, notably the Orchid Trilogy, based on his life in Kent. Born in Sandgate, Brooke was educated at King’s School, Canterbury and Bedales, before going to Worcester College, Oxford. During World War II, he enlisted in the Royal Army Medical Corps where he treated soldiers for venereal disease.
After the war Brooke moved to Ivy Cottage, Bishopsbourne where he lived with his childhood nanny, Ninnie. He wrote The Wild Orchids of Britain (1950) and The Flower in Season (1952) as well as becoming a founder member of the Kent Trust for Nature Conservation.
The material was collected by antiquarian bookseller, Patrick Marrin of Folkestone and consists of:
There are 100 items in the collection.
The collection was catalogued by Yosselin Claudio Montano, Evie Loos-Page and Cam Matthews whilst volunteering with the library.
You can read more about Brooke’s life in Kent at Kent Maps Online.
Contents: correspondence, articles, newspaper cuttings
Period: 20th century
Subjects: literature, nature, Kent
Access to the collection is during core library hours, between 9.00-5.00 Monday to Friday. Please email library.canterbury@canterbury.ac.uk with your enquiry in advance of your visit.