Harry Crosby

Date of Birth: June 4, 1898

Zodiac Sign: Gemini

Date of Death: December 10, 1929

Biography

Harry Crosby was an American writer, publisher, and influential figure in the expatriate literary scene of Paris during the 1920s. Born into a wealthy Boston family, Crosby defied societal expectations by immersing himself in the arts and leading a bohemian lifestyle. He was a prominent member of the Lost Generation, a group of American writers who found inspiration in post-World War I Europe. Crosby’s work often explored themes of love, death, and existential angst, reflecting his own tumultuous life and passionate relationships. Together with his wife, Caresse Crosby, he founded the Black Sun Press, which became known for publishing works by avant-garde writers such as D. H. Lawrence, James Joyce, and Ezra Pound. Despite his literary achievements, Crosby’s life was marked by a series of personal struggles, including bouts of depression and reckless behavior. His life came to a tragic end in 1929, leaving behind a legacy that continues to intrigue literary scholars and enthusiasts.

5 Interesting Facts about Harry Crosby

1. Harry Crosby was a decorated World War I veteran, having served as an ambulance driver during the war.

2. He and his wife, Caresse, were known for their extravagant parties and unconventional lifestyle, which often shocked their contemporaries.

3. Crosby was deeply influenced by the poetry of Charles Baudelaire and the philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche.

4. He had a tattoo of a black sun on his chest, symbolizing his fascination with both life and death.

5. Harry Crosby’s death was a double suicide pact with his lover, Josephine Rotch Bigelow, adding a layer of mystery and tragedy to his already dramatic life.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Harry Crosby

1. “I have no interest in ordinary humans. The only people who interest me are the mad ones.”

2. “Life is too short to be little.”

3. “The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved.”

4. “I am the sun, and the moon, and the stars.”

5. “My life is a poem, and I am the poet.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At the peak of his career, Harry Crosby’s net worth, largely inherited from his wealthy family, was estimated to be around $1 million (equivalent to approximately $15 million today).