George Oppen

Date of Birth: April 24, 1908

Zodiac Sign: Taurus

Date of Death: July 7, 1984

Biography

George Oppen was an American poet born on April 24, 1908, in New Rochelle, New York. He was a significant figure in the Objectivist movement, a group of poets in the early 20th century who valued clarity and objectivity in their works. Oppen attended Harvard University but left before completing his degree to travel and experience life with his wife, Mary Colby, whom he married in 1927. Oppen’s early poetry was published in the 1930s, but his literary career was interrupted by World War II. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and served with distinction in the European theater, earning a Purple Heart. After the war, Oppen and his family moved to Mexico to avoid the anti-communist sentiment in the United States, as he and Mary had been involved in leftist politics. He returned to poetry in the 1960s with his collection “The Materials,” which was followed by several other works including “Of Being Numerous,” which won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1969. Oppen continued to write and publish poetry until his death, contributing significantly to American literature. George Oppen passed away on July 7, 1984, in Sunnyvale, California.

5 Interesting Facts about George Oppen

1. George Oppen was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1969 for his book “Of Being Numerous.”

2. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and was wounded in action, receiving a Purple Heart.

3. Oppen and his wife Mary were involved in leftist politics, which led them to move to Mexico during the McCarthy era.

4. He was a key figure in the Objectivist movement, which emphasized clear, precise, and objective language in poetry.

5. Oppen resumed his poetry career in the 1960s after a long hiatus, during which time his work gained significant recognition and acclaim.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from George Oppen

1. “The self is no mystery, the mystery is / That there is something for us to stand on.”

2. “Clarity, clarity, surely clarity is the most beautiful thing in the world.”

3. “The things we see are the same things in the past, there is no change, no loss, no gain.”

4. “The edge is what I have.”

5. “The power of the mind is to gather the world, to gather the universe, to see the world and to say it is.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

George Oppen’s highest net worth is not well-documented, but as a poet primarily recognized for his literary contributions rather than financial success, it is likely that his net worth was relatively modest.