Galway Kinnell

Date of Birth: February 1, 1927

Zodiac Sign: Aquarius

Date of Death: October 28, 2014

Biography

Galway Kinnell was an American poet renowned for his powerful and emotive verse that often explored themes of nature, personal experience, and social justice. Born in Providence, Rhode Island, Kinnell grew up in Pawtucket. He attended Princeton University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree, and later completed a Master of Arts at the University of Rochester. His poetry career began to flourish in the 1960s, and he quickly became a significant voice in American literature. Kinnell was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1983 for his Selected Poems and shared the National Book Award for Poetry the same year. His work is characterized by its directness, emotional depth, and engagement with both the natural world and human conditions. He served as a chancellor of the Academy of American Poets and was a beloved teacher and mentor to many aspiring poets.

5 Interesting Facts about Galway Kinnell

1. Galway Kinnell’s poetry often drew inspiration from his experiences in rural Vermont, where he lived for many years.

2. He was a conscientious objector during the Korean War, which influenced his later anti-war activism.

3. Kinnell translated the works of several French poets, including Yves Bonnefoy.

4. He was involved in the Civil Rights Movement and participated in the Freedom Summer of 1964.

5. Kinnell received the MacArthur Fellowship, often referred to as the “Genius Grant,” in 1984.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Galway Kinnell

1. “To me, poetry is somebody standing up, so to speak, and saying, with as little concealment as possible, what it is for him or her to be on earth at this moment.”

2. “I think poetry must be honest and rigorous, and that it must also give pleasure.”

3. “The very nature of language is to be always growing, ever widening, ever changing, and poetry is the purest form of language.”

4. “The secret title of every good poem might be ‘Tenderness’.”

5. “Poetry is the last of the human activities that hasn’t been taken over by machines.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

The highest net worth achieved by Galway Kinnell is not well-documented, but his financial success was modest compared to contemporary commercial writers. His wealth primarily came from his teaching positions, literary awards, and fellowships.