Robert Traill Spence Lowell

Robert Traill Spence Lowell

Robert Traill Spence Lowell IV (March 1, 1917 – September 12, 1977) was an American poet known for his highly personal and confessional style of writing. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts, into a prominent family with a rich literary and political heritage. Lowell's work is often associated with the Confessional poetry movement, and he is considered one of the most important American poets of the 20th century.

Early Life and Education

Lowell was born to Robert Traill Spence Lowell III and Charlotte Winslow Lowell. He was a descendant of the prominent Lowell family, which included poets James Russell Lowell and Amy Lowell. He attended the prestigious St. Mark's School and later enrolled at Harvard University. However, he transferred to Kenyon College in Ohio, where he studied under the renowned poet and critic John Crowe Ransom.

Career

Lowell's first major work, Lord Weary's Castle (1946), won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry. This collection was heavily influenced by his Roman Catholic faith, which he later abandoned. His subsequent works, including Life Studies (1959), marked a significant shift towards a more personal and confessional style. Life Studies is often considered a seminal work in the Confessional poetry movement and won the National Book Award for Poetry.

Lowell continued to publish influential works throughout his career, including For the Union Dead (1964), Notebook 1967-68 (1969), and The Dolphin (1973), which won him a second Pulitzer Prize. His poetry often dealt with themes of family, history, and personal struggle.

Personal Life

Lowell's personal life was marked by turbulence and mental illness. He was married three times: first to Jean Stafford, then to Elizabeth Hardwick, and finally to Caroline Blackwood. He had a daughter, Harriet, with Hardwick. Lowell struggled with bipolar disorder throughout his life, which influenced much of his work.

Legacy

Lowell's influence on American poetry is profound. He mentored and influenced a generation of poets, including Sylvia Plath, Anne Sexton, and W. D. Snodgrass. His work continues to be studied and celebrated for its emotional depth and technical mastery.

Selected Works

• Land of Unlikeness (1944)
• Lord Weary's Castle (1946)
• Life Studies (1959)
• For the Union Dead (1964)
• Notebook 1967-68 (1969)
• The Dolphin (1973)
• Day by Day (1977)

Awards and Honors

• Pulitzer Prize for Poetry (1947, 1974)
• National Book Award for Poetry (1960)
• National Book Critics Circle Award (1977)

See Also

• Confessional poetry
• American poetry
• Pulitzer Prize for Poetry
• National Book Award for Poetry