Edmund Clerihew Bentley was an English writer and the inventor of the clerihew, a humorous form of poetry. The spelling of his name, Edmund Clerihew Bentley, can be broken down phonetically using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) as ˈɛdmənd klɛrɪhu ˈbɛntli. The first syllable is pronounced as "ed-mund" with the stress on the first syllable. The second part, "Clerihew", is pronounced as "klair-ih-hew", with the stress on the second syllable. Finally, "Bentley" is pronounced as "ben-tlee", with the stress on the first syllable.
Edmund Clerihew Bentley (1875-1956) was an English author and journalist who gained recognition for inventing a lighthearted form of biographical verse known as the clerihew. He was born in London and educated at St Paul's School and Merton College, Oxford.
Bentley is best remembered for creating the clerihew, a four-line poem designed to satirize famous individuals by playfully distorting factual or trivial details about their lives. The clerihew consists of two rhyming couplets and often employs an irregular rhythm or meter. Although not intended to be serious or profound, Bentley's witty and irreverent verses found great popularity, particularly in the early 20th century.
Beyond his contribution to poetry, Bentley also made a significant impact as a detective novelist. His most famous work, "Trent's Last Case" (1913), is widely regarded as a pioneering example of the "whodunit" genre. The novel featured Philip Trent, a freelance reporter turned amateur detective who solves a murder mystery in a classic locked room scenario. "Trent's Last Case" received critical acclaim for its intricate plotting, unexpected twists, and innovative narrative techniques.
Despite achieving success as a writer of both verse and crime fiction, Bentley gradually shifted his focus towards journalism. He served as a war correspondent during World War I and went on to work as a columnist and editor for various newspapers and magazines. Bentley's sharp wit and engaging writing style were evident throughout his career, and his impact as an innovative literary figure persists to this day.