Randall Jarrell's Writings

Data.

Graduated from Vanderbilt University.
Kenyon College, Gambier, Ohio: masters thesis on the poetry of Alfred Edward Housman; and roomed with poet Robert Lowell.
Taught at Kenyon College, the University of Texas, the University of Illinois, Sarah Lawrence College, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Strong reputation as a critic.
Influences include: Walt Whitman, Marianne Moore, and Wallace Stevens.
Translated poems by Rainer Maria Rilke and other poets, a play by Anton Chekhov, and many Grimm fairy tales.

1914

Born in Tennessee, USA.

1940

Poems: first publication in a book of poetry in Five Young American Poets, which included poetry by John Berryman.

1942

Poems: Blood for a Stranger, first collection of poetry.

1945

Poems: Little Friend, Little Friend, second collection of poetry.

1948

Poems: Losses, third collection of poetry.

1951

Poems: The Seven-League Crutches, fourth collection of poetry.

1952

Married Mary von Schrader, his second wife.

1953

Criticism (collection of essays): Poetry and the Age.

Met T.S. Eliot (for the first and only time) and avoided a discussion with him.

1954

Satiric novel: Pictures from an Institution.

1955

Nomination of novel Pictures from an Institution for National Book Award.

Poetry: Selected Poems.

1956

Appointed Consultant in Poetry to the U.S. Library of Congress, the position today known as the USA Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry.

1958

End of appointment as Consultant in Poetry to the U.S. Library of Congress, the position today known as the USA Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry.

1960

National Book Award-winning collection: The Woman at the Washington Zoo, fifth collection of poetry.

1964

Children's story: The Bat-Poet. Pictures by Maurice Sendak.

1965

Poems: The Woman at the Washington Zoo, sixth and last collection of poetry.

Children's story: The Animal Family. Art by Maurice Sendak.

Died.

1966

Poems: The Lost World, final collection of poetry, published posthumously.

2005

One of six poets in The Wounded Surgeon by Adam Kirsch:

Links and Books.

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