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University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire OX1 3PA
Brighton and Preston Cemetery, Bear Rd, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN2 4DZ, United Kingdom

William Percy Addleshaw (1866 - February 4, 1916) , who frequently wrote under the literary pseudonym Percy Hemingway, was a notable English barrister, poet, and prose writer.

Born in Bowdon, Cheshire, to parents John William Addleshaw and Rachel Ann Henes Addleshaw, and grew up alongside his brother Harold Pope Addleshaw. Addleshaw pursued his higher education at Christ Church, Oxford, where he developed a refined academic foundation before being formally called to the bar in 1893.

Beyond his legal career, Addleshaw immersed himself in the late-Victorian literary world. He was a close friend and dedicated admirer of the poet Roden Noel, whose selected poems he would later edit. Addleshaw actively contributed articles, critical reviews, and poetry to various periodicals of his day. Operating under his pseudonym Percy Hemingway, he published a collection of short stories titled Out of Egypt in 1895 (often cited as 1894) and the poetry volume The Happy Wanderer and other verse in 1896.

His literary output captured elements of aesthetic and thematic currents of the fin de siècle. Notably, his 1896 poem "All Souls' Night" secured his place within broader literary histories of marginalized expression, being featured in Brian Reade's landmark anthology Sexual Heretics: Male Homosexuality in English Literature from 1850-1900, which highlights works exploring alternative sexualities and aesthetic sensibilities during the Victorian era.

In addition to his creative writing, Addleshaw authored several non-fiction and biographical works later in life, including architectural and historical studies like The Cathedral Church of Exeter (1912) and a biography of Sir Philip Sidney (1909). Following his death in 1916, a posthumous collection of his poetry titled Last Verses was published in 1920, featuring an extensive introductory appreciation written by Arundel Osborne.

References:

Sexual Heretics: Male Homosexuality in English Literature from 1850-1900 (Routledge Library Editions: Literature and Sexuality) 1st Edition by Brian Reade

Other references:

• Out of Egypt: Stories from the Threshold of the East (1894/1895) – Published under the pseudonym Percy Hemingway, this collection of short stories captures late-19th-century exoticism and romanticism.
• The Happy Wanderer and Other Verse (1896) – Addleshaw’s prominent volume of poetry, which includes pieces reflecting fin-de-siècle aesthetic sensibilities, such as "All Souls' Night."
• The Cathedral Church of Exeter: A Description of Its Fabric and a Brief History of the Episcopal See (1912) – Part of Bell’s Cathedrals series, showcasing his work as an architectural and historical researcher.
• Sir Philip Sidney (1909 / published or referenced around 1916) – A biographical and critical study of the Elizabethan poet and courtier.
• Last Verses (1920) – A posthumous collection of his poetry featuring an extensive introductory biographical sketch and appreciation by Arundel Osborne.
• Stedman, Edmund Clarence (Ed.). A Victorian Anthology, 1837–1895 (1895) – Features contemporary critical reviews and selections of British poetry from the reign of Victoria, cross-referencing Addleshaw's early literary footprint.
• The Literary World, Volume 57 (1898) – Periodical containing contemporary reviews, literary commentary, and mentions of Addleshaw's active circle.
• The Internet Archive & Project Gutenberg – Digital repositories housing scanned archival editions of Out of Egypt, The Happy Wanderer, and his architectural monographs.
• Christ Church, Oxford Alumni Records – University registers documenting his academic training and progression toward being called to the bar in 1893.

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