Robinson Jeffers

Date of Birth: January 10, 1887

Zodiac Sign: Capricorn

Date of Death: January 20, 1962

Biography

Robinson Jeffers was an American poet known for his unique, rugged verse and intense connection to the natural world. Born on January 10, 1887, in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, Jeffers spent much of his life in Carmel, California, where the dramatic scenery of the coast profoundly influenced his work. He is often associated with the philosophy of “Inhumanism,” which emphasizes the intrinsic value of the natural world and the insignificance of humanity within it. Jeffers’ most acclaimed works include “Tamar,” “Roan Stallion,” “The Women at Point Sur,” and “Medea,” among others. He built Tor House and Hawk Tower in Carmel, which became both a home and a symbol of his connection to the landscape. Despite his relative isolation, Jeffers’ poetry gained significant recognition in the 1920s and 1930s, positioning him as a unique voice in American literature.

5 Interesting Facts about Robinson Jeffers

1. Robinson Jeffers was a classical scholar and could read Greek, Latin, French, and German.

2. He built his home, Tor House, and the adjacent Hawk Tower by hand, using stones from the nearby beach.

3. Jeffers’ poetry was often marked by themes of nature’s grandeur and humanity’s folly, challenging conventional humanism.

4. He was deeply influenced by the rugged beauty of the California coast, which frequently served as the setting for his poems.

5. Jeffers published his first book of poems, “Flagons and Apples,” in 1912, but it wasn’t until the publication of “Tamar and Other Poems” in 1924 that he gained widespread acclaim.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Robinson Jeffers

1. “The beauty of things was born before eyes and sufficient to itself; the heartbreaking beauty will remain when there is no heart to break for it.”

2. “The tides are in our veins, we still mirror the stars, life is your child, but there is in me older and harder than life and more impartial.”

3. “Pleasure is the carrot dangled to lead the ass to market; or the precipice.”

4. “I have fallen in love outwardly with the world.”

5. “When I was a child I would walk in the woods and feel I was not alone.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Robinson Jeffers’ highest net worth is not widely documented, but as a poet in the early to mid-20th century, his financial success was likely modest compared to contemporary standards for literary figures.

Children

Robinson Jeffers had twin sons, Donnan and Garth Jeffers, born in 1916. Both sons were significant in his life and are sometimes mentioned in his correspondence and biographical accounts.