Post by Admin on Jul 17, 2021 11:45:17 GMT -7
Louis Untermeyer
1885-1977
Louis Untermeyer was a man of many skills: Poet, anthologist, aspiring composer, pianist, jeweler, journalist, editor, lecturer, teacher, radio commentator, TV panelist, and poetry consultant. In his 80th year he had 90 volumes of poetry, either as author or anthologist, to his credit.
In 1950 to 1951 he worked as Panelist for the Television programme “ What is my Line” but was sacked by the Television company because of his active campaigning for the left wing causes.
He was born October 1st, 1885 in New York and grew up in a family of three children. He would eventually marry four times (2 poets, 1 lawyer, and 1 editor), have 4 sons of his own (1 died at the age of 19), and become one of the major movers for poetry in America.
From his early years, he would consider fantasy to be the most important part of his childhood. At the age of 10 he became a story teller, telling great tales taken from the books he read, installing himself as the main characters. His mother's readings of:
Paul Reveres Ride,
King Robert of Sicily, and
Hiawatha
were considered great tales (not poems) and took his story telling abilities to even greater heights.
His own readings of:
Rime of the Ancient Marnier,
La Fountaines Fables,
Tenneyson's Idylls of Kings, and
Dantes Inferno
(All illustrated by Gustave Dore)
continued to add to his love of fantasy.
And still, at the age of 18 he still considered himself on course for a career either as a concert pianist or a composer. But he had to discontinue his school education to join his fathers jewellery business. However his lust for writing ragged within him and he came out with his first book of poetry “First Love” in 1911. His political views were confirmed by his active roll in the Journal “The Masses” which later reincarnated in the name of “The Liberator”.
He was the Poet in residence at the University of Michigan from 1939 and he was also in the same position at the University of Kansas and Iowa State college. The poetry society of America awarded him a Gold medal in 1956. Between 1961 and 1963 he worked as a consultant for the Library of congress.
His poetry is considered best examples of tasteful selection and exemplary presentation of critical facts. His anthologies of "Modern American Poetry," is an example of this.
Louis Untermeyer died on 18th December 1977.
His anthologies, particularly "Modern American Poetry," are fine examples of taste in selection and penetration in presenting biographical and critical facts.
Information taken from Bygones: "The Recollections of Louis Untermeyer", Spartacus Educational & University of Pensilvenia - English Department.
1885-1977
Louis Untermeyer was a man of many skills: Poet, anthologist, aspiring composer, pianist, jeweler, journalist, editor, lecturer, teacher, radio commentator, TV panelist, and poetry consultant. In his 80th year he had 90 volumes of poetry, either as author or anthologist, to his credit.
In 1950 to 1951 he worked as Panelist for the Television programme “ What is my Line” but was sacked by the Television company because of his active campaigning for the left wing causes.
He was born October 1st, 1885 in New York and grew up in a family of three children. He would eventually marry four times (2 poets, 1 lawyer, and 1 editor), have 4 sons of his own (1 died at the age of 19), and become one of the major movers for poetry in America.
From his early years, he would consider fantasy to be the most important part of his childhood. At the age of 10 he became a story teller, telling great tales taken from the books he read, installing himself as the main characters. His mother's readings of:
Paul Reveres Ride,
King Robert of Sicily, and
Hiawatha
were considered great tales (not poems) and took his story telling abilities to even greater heights.
His own readings of:
Rime of the Ancient Marnier,
La Fountaines Fables,
Tenneyson's Idylls of Kings, and
Dantes Inferno
(All illustrated by Gustave Dore)
continued to add to his love of fantasy.
And still, at the age of 18 he still considered himself on course for a career either as a concert pianist or a composer. But he had to discontinue his school education to join his fathers jewellery business. However his lust for writing ragged within him and he came out with his first book of poetry “First Love” in 1911. His political views were confirmed by his active roll in the Journal “The Masses” which later reincarnated in the name of “The Liberator”.
He was the Poet in residence at the University of Michigan from 1939 and he was also in the same position at the University of Kansas and Iowa State college. The poetry society of America awarded him a Gold medal in 1956. Between 1961 and 1963 he worked as a consultant for the Library of congress.
His poetry is considered best examples of tasteful selection and exemplary presentation of critical facts. His anthologies of "Modern American Poetry," is an example of this.
Louis Untermeyer died on 18th December 1977.
His anthologies, particularly "Modern American Poetry," are fine examples of taste in selection and penetration in presenting biographical and critical facts.
Information taken from Bygones: "The Recollections of Louis Untermeyer", Spartacus Educational & University of Pensilvenia - English Department.