Origins & Early Life

Robert Traill Spence Lowell IV (; March 1, 1917 – September 12, 1977) was an American poet. He was born into a Boston Brahmin family that could trace its origins back to the Mayflower. His ancestors and contemporary family were important subjects in his poetry. Growing up in Boston also informed his poems, which were frequently set in Boston and the New England region.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Literary scholar Paula Hayes argues that, particularly in his early work, Lowell mythologized New England. Lowell stated, "The poets who most directly influenced me ... were Allen Tate, Elizabeth Bishop, and William Carlos Williams. An unlikely combination! ...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

but you can see that Bishop is a sort of bridge between Tate's formalism and Williams's informal art." Lowell wrote in both formal, metered verse and free verse; his verse in some poems from Life Studies and Notebook falls somewhere in between metered and free verse. After Life Studies (1959) was published, winning the 1960 National Book Award and featuring "a new emphasis on intense, uninhibited discussion of personal, family, and psychological struggles", he started to be considered an important part of the confessional poetry movement. However, much of Lowell...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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• 1917 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1917
• March 1 (03-01) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on March 1
• 1977 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1977
• September 12 (09-12) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on September 12