Date of Birth: April 30, 1888
Zodiac Sign: Taurus
Date of Death: July 3, 1974
Biography
John Crowe Ransom was an influential American poet, essayist, and critic, born in Pulaski, Tennessee. He was a leading voice in the Southern Agrarian movement and a founder of the New Criticism school of literary theory. Ransom graduated from Vanderbilt University and later became a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University. He returned to Vanderbilt to teach and became a prominent member of the Fugitive Poets, a group of Southern writers dedicated to creating a distinct Southern literary tradition. His poetry is known for its formal structure and philosophical depth, often exploring themes of loss, mortality, and the passage of time. Ransom’s critical work significantly influenced mid-20th-century American literary criticism, emphasizing the close reading of texts and the importance of textual integrity.
5 Interesting Facts about John Crowe Ransom
1. John Crowe Ransom was a Rhodes Scholar, which allowed him to study at Oxford University.
2. He was a founding member of the Southern Agrarians, a group that promoted traditional Southern culture and values.
3. Ransom’s poetry collection “Chills and Fever” (1924) received widespread acclaim and established him as a significant poet.
4. He was the editor of the influential literary journal “The Kenyon Review” from 1939 to 1959.
5. Ransom won the Bollingen Prize for Poetry in 1951, one of the highest honors in American poetry.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from John Crowe Ransom
1. “The arts generally have had to recognize Modernism – how should poetry escape?”
2. “We must cultivate our garden.”
3. “The world’s body is too strong for the soul’s wings.”
4. “The critic’s duty is to read the text closely and to ask questions about what it means.”
5. “Satire is always a critique of the visible world; it is never a vision of the invisible.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
John Crowe Ransom’s highest net worth was never publicly disclosed, but his influence and contributions to literature and criticism were invaluable.
Children
John Crowe Ransom had three children: Helen Ransom, David Ransom, and John Ransom Jr.
Relevant Links
1. [Poetry Foundation](https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/john-crowe-ransom
2. [Academy of American Poets](https://poets.org/poet/john-crowe-ransom
3. [Encyclopedia Britannica](https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-Crowe-Ransom
4. [Modern American Poetry](http://www.modernamericanpoetry.org/poet/john-crowe-ransom
5. [The Kenyon Review](https://kenyonreview.org/about/history/
