Arthur Christopher Benson was one of six children of Edward White Benson, who was not only the first headmaster of the Wellington College but also later became the Archbishop of Canterbury from 1883 to 1896. Arthur’s mother, Mary Sidgwick Benson, was the sister of the philosopher Henry Sidgwick.

Arthur came from a family of writers. His brothers included Edward Frederic Benson, known for his Mapp and Lucia novels, and Robert Hugh Benson, who initially served as an Anglican priest before converting to Roman Catholicism and writing many popular novels. Their sister, Margaret Benson, was an artist, author, and amateur Egyptologist.

Unfortunately, despite their talents, the Benson family faced hardships. They experienced the early deaths of a son and daughter, and both Arthur and another daughter suffered from mental conditions that might have been inherited from their father, possibly bipolar disorder or manic-depressive psychosis. None of the Benson children ever married.

Despite his personal challenges, Arthur went on to have a successful academic and writing career. Between the ages of 10 and 21, he lived in cathedral towns, first in Lincoln, where his father served as Chancellor of Lincoln Cathedral, and then in Truro, where his father became the first Bishop of Truro. Throughout his life, Arthur maintained a deep love for church music and ceremonies.

In 1874, he earned a scholarship to attend Eton, having previously attended Temple Grove School, a preparatory school in East Sheen. In 1881, Arthur began his studies at King’s College, Cambridge, where he was a scholar (a type of academic achievement award), and in 1884, he achieved first-class honors in the Classical tripos (a Cambridge examination) during his time there.

Despite his personal challenges, Arthur went on to have a successful academic and writing career. Between the ages of 10 and 21, he lived in cathedral towns, first in Lincoln, where his father served as Chancellor of Lincoln Cathedral, and then in Truro, where his father became the first Bishop of Truro. Throughout his life, Arthur maintained a deep love for church music and ceremonies.

In 1874, he earned a scholarship to attend Eton, having previously attended Temple Grove School, a preparatory school in East Sheen. In 1881, Arthur began his studies at King’s College, Cambridge, where he was a scholar (a type of academic achievement award), and in 1884, he achieved first-class honors in the Classical tripos (a Cambridge examination) during his time there.

Everything I do is me. I don’t like taking ideas from people unless they’re the G.O.A.T.

A Boogie wit da Hoodie

From 1885 to 1903, Arthur Christopher Benson worked as a teacher at Eton College. Then, in 1904, he returned to Cambridge and became a Fellow at Magdalene College, where he taught English Literature. He later became the president of the college in 1912 and eventually the head of the college, known as the Master, from December 1915 until his passing in 1925. He was also a governor at Gresham’s School starting in 1906.

Benson played a significant role in shaping the development of Magdalene College, contributing to its appearance and leaving behind his mark in various inscriptions around the college. In 1930, a new part of the college, Benson Court, was named in his honor.

He collaborated with Lord Esher in editing Queen Victoria’s correspondence, which was published in 1907. Benson was known for his poems, essays, and extensive diaries, which are among the longest ever written, totaling about four million words. His literary critiques of figures like Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Edward FitzGerald, Walter Pater, and John Ruskin were highly regarded.

Benson also wrote the lyrics for the Coronation Ode, a musical piece composed by Edward Elgar for the coronation of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra in 1902. This composition includes the famous patriotic song “Land of Hope and Glory.”

Arthur Christopher Benson, like his brothers Edward Frederic and Robert Hugh, was known for writing ghost stories. He penned most of these spooky tales in two books, “The Hill of Trouble and Other Stories” in 1903 and “The Isles of Sunset” in 1904. These stories were actually written with a moral lesson in mind, meant for his students.

After Arthur’s passing, his brother Fred Benson discovered a collection of ghost stories that had never been published. Fred decided to include two of these tales in a book called “Basil Netherby” in 1927. One of the stories was renamed “House at Treheale,” and the book was completed with a long story called “The Uttermost Farthing.” However, we don’t know what happened to the rest of the stories from Arthur’s collection.

In 1911, a book titled “Paul the Minstrel and Other Stories” was published, which included the stories from “The Hill of Trouble and Other Stories” and “The Isles of Sunset.”

If you’re interested in reading more of Arthur’s ghost stories, you can find nine of them in a book called “The Temple of Death: The Ghost Stories of A. C. & R. H. Benson,” published by Wordsworth in 2007. This collection also includes seven ghost stories by his brother R. H. Benson. Additionally, another collection titled “Ghosts in the House,” published by Ash-Tree in 1996, features nine of Arthur’s and ten of Robert’s ghost stories. However, the contents of these two collections are similar but not exactly the same.

Arthur Christopher Benson was a prolific writer, and he is known for several famous works, including:

1. “From a College Window”: This series of essays reflects his experiences and observations while he was a Fellow at Magdalene College, Cambridge. These essays are highly regarded for their introspective and contemplative style.
2. “The Upton Letters”: This collection of essays is presented in the form of letters and was famous during his time.
3. “The Temple of Death: The Ghost Stories of A. C. & R. H. Benson”: This collection, published in 2007, includes nine of Arthur Christopher Benson’s ghost stories and seven by his brother R. H. Benson.
4. “Paul the Minstrel and Other Stories”: Published in 1911, this book collects stories from “The Hill of Trouble and Other Stories” and “The Isles of Sunset.”
5. “Land of Hope and Glory”: Benson wrote the lyrics for this famous patriotic song, which was set to music by Edward Elgar for the 1902 coronation of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra. It remains a well-known British anthem.
6. Literary Criticism: Benson also wrote literary criticism on notable figures like Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Edward FitzGerald, Walter Pater, and John Ruskin, which are highly regarded as some of his best work.
7. Diaries: Arthur Christopher Benson left behind one of the longest diaries ever written, totaling about four million words. While not a published work in its entirety, his diaries offer valuable insights into his life and thoughts.
8. Edited Correspondence of Queen Victoria: Benson collaborated with Lord Esher to edit the correspondence of Queen Victoria, which was published in 1907.
9. “Basil Netherby”: Published posthumously in 1927 by his brother Fred Benson, this book includes some of Arthur’s unpublished ghost stories.

While these are some of his most notable works, Arthur Christopher Benson wrote extensively on various subjects and contributed significantly to English literature and culture during his time.