About
American poet and critic, central figure of literary modernism. Born in Idaho, he studied languages and moved to London in 1908, where he launched Imagism and supported writers like T.S. Eliot and James Joyce. His major work, The Cantos, is a long epic poem published from 1925 to 1970. In the 1930s, he embraced Italian fascism and made pro-fascist radio broadcasts during World War II. Arrested for treason in 1945, he was declared unfit to stand trial and confined to St. Elizabeth's Hospital until 1958. He died in Venice in 1972.
* 1885-10-28 — † 1972-11-01
Major works
- A lume spento (1908)poetry
- Personae (1909)poetry
- Hugh Selwyn Mauberley (1920)poetry
- The Cantos (1925–1970)epic poetry
Key milestones
- 1912Becomes London correspondent for Poetry magazine (Chicago) and champions modernist writers.
- 1922Edits T.S. Eliot's The Waste Land, which Eliot dedicates to him.
- 1945Arrested for treason by U.S. forces; confined to St. Elizabeth's Hospital until 1958.
Themes
modernismimagismepic poetryeconomics and politicstradition and culture
Sources: findingaids.loc.gov · britannica.com · anb.org
