Delmore Schwartz

Date of Birth: December 8, 1913

Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius

Date of Death: July 11, 1966

Biography

Delmore Schwartz was an American poet and short story writer, born on December 8, 1913, in Brooklyn, New York. He is best known for his incisive and often autobiographical works that explore themes of identity, consciousness, and the complexities of modern life. Schwartz’s early life was marked by turmoil, as his parents divorced when he was young, deeply affecting his psychological landscape and subsequently his writing. Schwartz attended the University of Wisconsin and later New York University, where he developed his literary talents. His first major work, “In Dreams Begin Responsibilities,” published in 1938, garnered critical acclaim and established him as a significant voice in American literature. Throughout his career, Schwartz struggled with mental health issues and substance abuse, which often hindered his creative output. Despite these challenges, he continued to write influential poetry and prose. His later works include “Genesis: Book I” and “Summer Knowledge: New and Selected Poems,” the latter of which won the Bollingen Prize in 1960. Schwartz’s influence extended beyond his own writing, impacting notable literary figures such as John Berryman, Lou Reed, and Saul Bellow, who immortalized Schwartz in his novel “Humboldt’s Gift.”

5 Interesting Facts about Delmore Schwartz

1. Delmore Schwartz’s short story “In Dreams Begin Responsibilities” was published when he was only 25 years old.

2. Schwartz was awarded the Bollingen Prize in 1960 for his collection “Summer Knowledge: New and Selected Poems.”

3. His turbulent personal life and struggles with mental illness were well-documented, influencing much of his work.

4. Saul Bellow’s novel “Humboldt’s Gift” is a fictionalized account of Schwartz’s life and their friendship.

5. Lou Reed, the frontman of The Velvet Underground, was deeply influenced by Schwartz and dedicated the song “European Son” to him.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Delmore Schwartz

1. “In dreams begin responsibilities.”

2. “Time is the school in which we learn, time is the fire in which we burn.”

3. “Even paranoids have real enemies.”

4. “The heavy bear who goes with me, a manifold honey to smear his face, clumsy and lumbering here and there, the central ton of every place.”

5. “What am I now that I was then? May memory restore again and again the smallest color of the smallest day: time is the school in which we learn, time is the fire in which we burn.”