Elizabeth Bishop

Date of Birth: February 8, 1911

Zodiac Sign: Aquarius

Date of Death: October 6, 1979

Biography

Elizabeth Bishop was an acclaimed American poet and short-story writer, renowned for her precise and detailed observations of the physical world. Born on February 8, 1911, in Worcester, Massachusetts, Bishop suffered the early loss of her father and the subsequent institutionalization of her mother, leading her to be raised by relatives in Nova Scotia and Massachusetts. This early upheaval profoundly influenced her sense of place and dislocation, themes recurrent in her poetry. Bishop’s work is characterized by its meticulous craftsmanship and understated style. She published only a few volumes of poetry during her lifetime, including “North & South” (1946), “A Cold Spring” (1955), and “Geography III” (1976), yet her influence on American poetry is substantial. She received numerous accolades, including the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1956 and the National Book Award in 1970. Bishop’s poetry often reflects her extensive travels, with vivid and precise imagery that explores both the external world and internal landscapes. Elizabeth Bishop passed away on October 6, 1979, in Boston, Massachusetts, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire poets and readers alike.

5 Interesting Facts about Elizabeth Bishop

1. Elizabeth Bishop won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1956 for her collection “North & South.”

2. She served as the Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress from 1949 to 1950.

3. Bishop struggled with alcoholism throughout her life, which influenced both her personal and professional experiences.

4. Her relationship with Brazilian architect Lota de Macedo Soares inspired some of her most profound work and reflections on love and loss.

5. Bishop’s poem “One Art” is one of her most famous works, known for its poignant exploration of loss and mastery over grief.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Elizabeth Bishop

1. “The art of losing isn’t hard to master.”

2. “All my life I have lived and behaved very much like the sandpiper—just running down the edges of different countries and continents, ‘looking for something’.”

3. “What I think is that a good deal of poetry is just really hard work.”

4. “The world is wide and beautiful and there are many wonderful places in it.”

5. “Write what you want to write—there is no other rule.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Elizabeth Bishop’s net worth was modest, as she was primarily recognized for her literary contributions rather than financial success. However, at the peak of her career, her work earned significant critical acclaim and various prestigious awards.