Other influences

“After the war Maguire came back from the East

With brand-new jokes and jorums in his head"

from Autumn Sequel by Louis MacNeice. George MacCann features under the pseudonym of "Maguire”

His knowledge of the ancient Greek language was something of a gentle joke among academic· friends - and not least with MacNeice, who was, of course, a fine Greek scholar. But with MacNeice he shared a real sense of mythology and an intuitive feeling for a classical tradition which can clearly be seen, not only in figurative romantic encounters of legendary heroes, but also in some later abstract works which evoke a classical nuance.

During the war George MacCann served as a Captain in the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers in India and Burma. Although he occasionally spoke bitterly of the grimmer aspects of war, it is no exaggeration to say that he adored the army, and was as completely fascinated by the colour flying flourish and etiquette of military life as he was devoted in camaraderie to his companions in arms.

The Army

Antiquity