Randall Jarrell

Born:

May 6, 1914, Nashville, Tennessee, USA

Died:

October 14, 1965, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA

Nationality:

American

Profession(s):

Poet, Literary Critic, Novelist

Early Life and Education

• Spent part of his childhood in Hollywood, California.
• Graduated from Vanderbilt University in 1935 with a Bachelor of Arts degree.
• Earned a Master of Arts degree from Vanderbilt University in 1939.

Career and Major Achievements

• Served in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II.
• Taught at Kenyon College, the University of Texas at Austin, Sarah Lawrence College, and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
• Served as Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress (later Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry) from 1956 to 1958.
• Won the National Book Award for Poetry in 1961 for The Woman at the Washington Zoo.

Notable Works

• Poetry Collections:
  • Little Friend, Little Friend (1945)
  • Losses (1948)
  • The Seven-League Crutches (1951)
  • Selected Poems (1955)
  • The Woman at the Washington Zoo (1960)
  • The Lost World (1965)
• Novel: Pictures from an Institution (1954)
• Criticism: Poetry and the Age (1953)
• Children's Literature: The Gingerbread Rabbit (1964), Fly by Night (1976, posthumous)

Legacy and Impact

Randall Jarrell was a significant figure in 20th-century American literature, known for his insightful poetry, sharp literary criticism, and poignant explorations of war, loss, and modern life. The Randall Jarrell biography reveals an individual deeply engaged with the social and psychological realities of his time, producing works that continue to resonate with readers today.

Awards and Recognition

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