George Moore Biography

George Augustus Moore was an Irish writer, poet and dramatist who is credited for being the leading influence on naturalism in English and Irish writing during the late 19th century. A versatile writer who boldly broke away from the Victorian norms of his times, he often wrote about controversial topics like sex, adultery, prostitution, homosexuality, etc. During his younger days, Moore wanted to be a painter but later on his interest turned to writing. He began his writing career as a poet with ‘The Flowers of Passion’, a collection of lyrical poems. But he was forced to withdraw the book from the circulating libraries after some critics reviewed it negatively as the contents of the poems could offend moral puritans. His first novel, ‘A Modern Lover’, depicted the affairs and love life of a painter in a realistic manner. The novel received positive reviews, but also created much controversy due to its subject matter. Undaunted, he went on to publish another novel, ‘A Mummer's Wife’ which dealt with the issues of adultery and extramarital affairs. This book was also criticized for its explicit content, prompting Moore to raise his voice against the prudish censorship of the circulating libraries. The legendary poet and novelist, James Joyce regarded Moore as his greatest influence.