John Malcolm Brinnin
Encyclopedia
John Malcolm Brinnin was an American poet and literary critic. Brinnin was born in Halifax Nova Scotia
to two United States citizens.
When still a boy, Brinnin's parents moved to Detroit, Michigan
. Brinnin went to the University of Michigan
for his undergraduate studies where he won three Hopwood Award
s in 1938, 1939 and 1940. He worked his way through school in an Ann Arbor book store. During part of this time (1936–1938), Brinnin served as the editor of the journal Signatures. Graduating from Michigan in 1942, Brinnin went to Harvard University
for graduate work.
From 1949-1956, Brinnin was Director of the Young Men's and Young Women's Hebrew Association Poetry Center (popularly known today as the 92nd Street Y
) . While there, he raised the center to national attention as a focal point of poetry in the United States. Brinnin, for example, was the first person to bring Dylan Thomas
to the United States. Brinnin's Dylan Thomas in America (1955) describes much of his attempt to befriend and help the troubled Welsh poet.
In addition to his work on Thomas, Brinnin published six volumes of his own poetry. Brinnin also wrote scholarly works on T. S. Eliot
, Gertrude Stein
, Truman Capote
, and William Carlos Williams
; and published three personal travelogues.
Brinnin taught in a number of universities over his career. At various times, he gave courses at Vassar College
, Boston University
, the University of Connecticut
, and Harvard University
.
Brinnin died in Key West, Florida
on June 25, 1998. His papers were left to the University of Delaware
.
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
to two United States citizens.
When still a boy, Brinnin's parents moved to Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
. Brinnin went to the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
for his undergraduate studies where he won three Hopwood Award
Hopwood Award
The Hopwood Awards are a major scholarship program at the University of Michigan, founded by Avery Hopwood.Under the terms of the will of Avery Hopwood, a prominent American dramatist and member of the Class of 1905 of The University of Michigan, one-fifth of Mr. Hopwood's estate was given to the...
s in 1938, 1939 and 1940. He worked his way through school in an Ann Arbor book store. During part of this time (1936–1938), Brinnin served as the editor of the journal Signatures. Graduating from Michigan in 1942, Brinnin went to Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
for graduate work.
From 1949-1956, Brinnin was Director of the Young Men's and Young Women's Hebrew Association Poetry Center (popularly known today as the 92nd Street Y
92nd Street Y
92nd Street Y is a multifaceted cultural institution and community center located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in New York City, United States, at the corner of E. 92nd Street and Lexington Avenue. Its full name is 92nd Street Young Men's and Young Women's Hebrew Association...
) . While there, he raised the center to national attention as a focal point of poetry in the United States. Brinnin, for example, was the first person to bring Dylan Thomas
Dylan Thomas
Dylan Marlais Thomas was a Welsh poet and writer, Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 11 January 2008. who wrote exclusively in English. In addition to poetry, he wrote short stories and scripts for film and radio, which he often performed himself...
to the United States. Brinnin's Dylan Thomas in America (1955) describes much of his attempt to befriend and help the troubled Welsh poet.
In addition to his work on Thomas, Brinnin published six volumes of his own poetry. Brinnin also wrote scholarly works on T. S. Eliot
T. S. Eliot
Thomas Stearns "T. S." Eliot OM was a playwright, literary critic, and arguably the most important English-language poet of the 20th century. Although he was born an American he moved to the United Kingdom in 1914 and was naturalised as a British subject in 1927 at age 39.The poem that made his...
, Gertrude Stein
Gertrude Stein
Gertrude Stein was an American writer, poet and art collector who spent most of her life in France.-Early life:...
, Truman Capote
Truman Capote
Truman Streckfus Persons , known as Truman Capote , was an American author, many of whose short stories, novels, plays, and nonfiction are recognized literary classics, including the novella Breakfast at Tiffany's and the true crime novel In Cold Blood , which he labeled a "nonfiction novel." At...
, and William Carlos Williams
William Carlos Williams
William Carlos Williams was an American poet closely associated with modernism and Imagism. He was also a pediatrician and general practitioner of medicine, having graduated from the University of Pennsylvania...
; and published three personal travelogues.
Brinnin taught in a number of universities over his career. At various times, he gave courses at Vassar College
Vassar College
Vassar College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college in the town of Poughkeepsie, New York, in the United States. The Vassar campus comprises over and more than 100 buildings, including four National Historic Landmarks, ranging in style from Collegiate Gothic to International,...
, Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
, the University of Connecticut
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
, and Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
.
Brinnin died in Key West, Florida
Key West, Florida
Key West is a city in Monroe County, Florida, United States. The city encompasses the island of Key West, the part of Stock Island north of U.S. 1 , Sigsbee Park , Fleming Key , and Sunset Key...
on June 25, 1998. His papers were left to the University of Delaware
University of Delaware
The university is organized into seven colleges:* College of Agriculture and Natural Resources* College of Arts and Sciences* Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics* College of Earth, Ocean and Environment* College of Education and Human Development...
.
Poetry
- The Garden is Political (1942)
- The Lincoln Lyrics (1942)
- No Arch, No Triumph (1945)
- The Sorrows of Cold Stone (1951)
- Selected Poems of John Malcolm Brinnin (1963)
- Skin Diving in the Virgins, and Other Poems (1970)
Works on literary figures
- Dylan Thomas in America (1956)
- William Carlos Williams (1963)
- Sextet: T. S. Eliot, Truman Capote and Others (1981)
- The Third Rose: Gertrude Stein and Her World (1987)
Travelogues
- Beau Voyage: Life Aboard the Last Great Ships (1988)
- Travel and the Sense of Wonder (1992) link to digital edition
- The Sway of the Grand Saloon: A Social History of the North Atlantic (2000)