Richard Wilbur

Richard Wilbur
Name	Richard Wilbur
Caption	Wilbur in 1986
Birth date	March 1, 1921
Birth place	New York City, U.S.
Death date	October 14, 2017
Death place	Belmont, Massachusetts, U.S.
Occupation	Poet, translator, literary critic
Education	Amherst College (BA), Harvard University (MA)
Spouse	Charlotte Hayes Ward (m. 1942)
Awards	Pulitzer Prize for Poetry (1957, 1989), National Book Award (1957), Bollingen Prize (1971), Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress (1987–1988)

Richard Wilbur was an eminent American poet and literary translator, widely regarded as a principal exponent of formal, metrical verse in the post-World War II era. His meticulously crafted work, celebrated for its wit, grace, and philosophical depth, earned him the highest accolades in American letters, including two Pulitzer Prizes and a term as the nation's Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress. Alongside his original poetry, his acclaimed translations of Molière and Jean Racine solidified his reputation as a master of both the creative and scholarly arts.

Early life and education

He was born in New York City and spent much of his youth in rural New Jersey. His father was a painter, and the family's artistic environment fostered an early appreciation for the arts. He attended Amherst College, where he studied under the poet and critic Reuben Brower, an experience that profoundly shaped his approach to literature. His education was interrupted by service in the United States Army during World War II, where he fought in the Italian Campaign and began writing poetry seriously. After the war, he completed graduate studies at Harvard University, immersing himself in the works of Robert Frost, Wallace Stevens, and Emily Dickinson.

Career

Following his studies, he began a long and distinguished academic career, teaching at Harvard University, Wellesley College, Wesleyan University, and Smith College. His first collection, *The Beautiful Changes and Other Poems*, was published in 1947, immediately establishing his technical prowess. He later served as editor of *The Kenyon Review* and was a chancellor of The Academy of American Poets. Beyond academia, he collaborated on the Broadway production of Leonard Bernstein's *Candide*, contributing lyrics for songs like "Glitter and Be Gay." His critical essays were collected in volumes such as *Responses: Prose Pieces, 1948–1976*.

Poetry and style

His poetry is characterized by its formal elegance, employing traditional structures like the sonnet, villanelle, and heroic couplet with a contemporary sensibility. Recurring themes include the interplay between mind and nature, the transformative power of perception, and a celebration of the physical world. Notable collections include *Things of This World* (winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry and the National Book Award), *Advice to a Prophet*, and *The Mind-Reader*. Poems such as "Love Calls Us to the Things of This World" and "The Writer" are considered classics of modern American poetry, admired for their metaphysical wit and emotional resonance.

Awards and honors

Throughout his career, he received nearly every major American literary prize. He won his first Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1957 for *Things of This World* and his second in 1989 for *New and Collected Poems*. He was awarded the National Book Award in 1957, the Bollingen Prize in 1971, and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize in 1988. In 1987, he was appointed the second Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress. He also received the National Medal of Arts from President Bill Clinton in 1994 and the Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize in 2006.

Personal life and death

He married Charlotte Hayes Ward in 1942, and their partnership lasted 75 years until his death. The couple had four children and made their home in Cummington, Massachusetts, and later in Belmont, Massachusetts. He was known among colleagues and students for his gentlemanly demeanor, humility, and sharp intellect. He died on October 14, 2017, in Belmont at the age of 96. His passing was marked by tributes from institutions like The American Academy of Arts and Letters and fellow poets including Dana Gioia and Charles Simic.

Legacy and influence

He is remembered as a defining voice of formalist poetry in the twentieth century, providing a vital counterpoint to the dominant confessional poetry of his contemporaries like Robert Lowell and Sylvia Plath. His translations of Molière's plays, including *Tartuffe* and *The Misanthrope*, remain the standard versions performed in the English-speaking world. His work continues to be a touchstone for contemporary poets committed to meter and rhyme, influencing figures such as Anthony Hecht, Brad Leithauser, and Molly Peacock. His papers are held in the special collections of Amherst College and the Library of Congress.

Category:American poets Category:Pulitzer Prize for Poetry winners Category:Poets Laureate of the United States