Date of Birth: July 21, 1899
Zodiac Sign: Cancer
Date of Death: April 27, 1932
Biography
Hart Crane, born Harold Hart Crane, was an influential American poet best known for his modernist epic poem “The Bridge.” Born on July 21, 1899, in Garrettsville, Ohio, Crane’s work was marked by its ambitious scope and innovative use of language. Crane grew up in a troubled household, with his parents’ tumultuous marriage contributing to his emotional struggles. He dropped out of high school and moved to New York City, where he became immersed in the literary scene. Crane’s poetry often explored themes of industrialization, the American experience, and personal anguish. His first collection, “White Buildings,” published in 1926, received critical acclaim. However, it was “The Bridge,” published in 1930, that solidified his reputation. The poem aimed to be a counterpart to T.S. Eliot’s “The Waste Land,” offering a more optimistic view of modern life. Despite his literary success, Crane’s personal life was fraught with difficulties, including struggles with alcoholism and his sexuality. On April 27, 1932, while returning to New York from Mexico, Crane reportedly jumped off the S.S. Orizaba and drowned in the Gulf of Mexico, ending his life at the age of 32.
5 Interesting Facts about Hart Crane
1. Hart Crane was heavily influenced by the French symbolist poets, including Arthur Rimbaud.
2. He worked various jobs, including as a copywriter and a sailor, to support his writing.
3. Crane’s turbulent relationship with his father, a successful businessman, deeply impacted his emotional well-being.
4. “The Bridge” was intended to be an American epic that would rival T.S. Eliot’s “The Waste Land.”
5. Crane’s work was largely underappreciated during his lifetime but gained significant recognition posthumously.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Hart Crane
1. “One must be drenched in words, literally soaked in them.”
2. “The bottom of the sea is cruel.”
3. “I got so I simply gagged every time I sat before my desk to write an ad.”
4. “It is my hope to go through the combined materials and make a whole of it.”
5. “And so it was I entered the broken world to trace the visionary company of love, its voice an instant in the wind.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
Hart Crane did not achieve significant financial success during his lifetime. His estate was modest, and he often struggled financially.
Children
Hart Crane did not have any children.
Relevant Links
1. [Hart Crane – Poetry Foundation](https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/hart-crane
2. [Hart Crane – Academy of American Poets](https://poets.org/poet/hart-crane
3. [The Bridge by Hart Crane – Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bridge_(poem
4. [Hart Crane Biography – Encyclopedia Britannica](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Hart-Crane
5. [Hart Crane – Poetry Archive](https://www.poetryarchive.org/poet/hart-crane
