ˈSquirearchy2
[f. the name of Sir John Collings Squire (1884–1958), Eng. poet and man of letters, punningly after prec.]
The influential literary circle, composed principally of critics and poets, which surrounded Squire, esp. during his editorship of the London Mercury (1919–34).
| 1930 J. Arrow J. C. Squire v. D. H. Lawrence 5 Mr. J. C. Squire has pronounced... The magnanimous verdict is that the work of which the ‘Squirearchy’ does not approve will be ‘easily forgiven and even forgotten’. 1959 Times Lit. Suppl. 10 Apr. 210/1 When Dr. Leavis founded Scrutiny it was with the laudable intention of cleaning out the Augean Stables of the Squirearchy, and an academic Hercules indeed he proved to be. 1978 J. Pearson Fa{cced}ades viii. 146 The next encounter [of] the Sitwells..was the battle with the group who called themselves..the ‘Squirearchy’. |