John Ashbery

John Ashbery
source
Name	John Ashbery
Birth date	July 28, 1927
Birth place	Rochester, New York
Death date	September 3, 2017
Death place	Hudson, New York
Occupation	Poet, critic, professor

John Ashbery was a renowned American poet, known for his unique and innovative style, which was influenced by Surrealism, Imagism, and Modernism. He was a key figure in the New York School of poetry, alongside Frank O'Hara, Kenneth Koch, and James Schuyler. Ashbery's work was widely acclaimed, and he was awarded numerous prestigious awards, including the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry, the National Book Award, and the National Book Critics Circle Award. His poetry was also influenced by his interests in Art Nouveau, Cubism, and the works of Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, and René Magritte.

● Early Life and Education

John Ashbery was born in Rochester, New York, to Chester and Helen Ashbery, and grew up on a farm in Sodus, New York. He developed an interest in poetry at an early age, influenced by the works of Walt Whitman, Emily Dickinson, and Wallace Stevens. Ashbery attended Harvard University, where he studied English literature and was influenced by the works of T.S. Eliot, Ezra Pound, and William Carlos Williams. He also developed an interest in French literature, particularly the works of Charles Baudelaire, Arthur Rimbaud, and Guillaume Apollinaire.

● Career

Ashbery began his career as a poet in the 1950s, publishing his first collection, Some Trees, in 1956. He was a prominent figure in the New York School of poetry, and his work was influenced by the city's vibrant art scene, which included artists such as Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning, and Mark Rothko. Ashbery also worked as a critic and editor, writing for publications such as Art News, The New Yorker, and The Paris Review. He was a professor of English literature at Brooklyn College and Harvard University, and was also a visiting professor at University of California, Berkeley, Yale University, and Oxford University.

● Poetry and Style

Ashbery's poetry is known for its unique and innovative style, which blends elements of Surrealism, Imagism, and Modernism. His work is characterized by its use of free verse, fragmented narratives, and experimental language. Ashbery's poetry was influenced by a wide range of sources, including French Symbolism, German Expressionism, and the works of James Joyce, Virginia Woolf, and Marcel Proust. His poetry collections, such as The Tennis Court Oath, Rivers and Mountains, and Self-Portrait in a Convex Mirror, are considered some of the most important and influential works of American poetry in the 20th century.

● Awards and Honors

Ashbery received numerous awards and honors for his work, including the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry for his collection Self-Portrait in a Convex Mirror, the National Book Award for his collection A Wave, and the National Book Critics Circle Award for his collection Flow Chart. He was also awarded the Bollingen Prize in American Poetry, the Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize, and the Griffin Poetry Prize. Ashbery was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and was also a fellow of the Guggenheim Foundation and the MacArthur Foundation.

● Personal Life

Ashbery lived in New York City and Paris for many years, and was known for his love of art, music, and film. He was a close friend of many artists, including Willem de Kooning, Franz Kline, and Robert Rauschenberg, and was also a friend of writers such as Frank O'Hara, Kenneth Koch, and James Schuyler. Ashbery was also a collector of art and rare books, and his collection included works by Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, and René Magritte.

● Legacy

Ashbery's legacy as a poet is immense, and his work continues to influence generations of poets and writers. His innovative style and experimental approach to language have made him one of the most important and influential poets of the 20th century. Ashbery's work has been translated into many languages, including French, Spanish, German, and Italian, and his poetry collections continue to be widely read and studied. He is also remembered for his contributions to the New York School of poetry, and his friendships with other notable poets and artists, including Frank O'Hara, Kenneth Koch, and James Schuyler. Ashbery's work is housed in the Library of Congress, the New York Public Library, and the Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library at Yale University. Category:American poets