Merrill, James Ingram

Merrill, James Ingram
▪ 1996

      U.S. poet (b. March 3, 1926, New York, N.Y.—d. Feb. 6, 1995, Tucson, Ariz.), perfected the technique of wittily using rhyme and meter to produce lyric and epic poems that dealt with love and loss. His superb craftsmanship was showcased in a body of work that celebrated his eclectic and elegant style, securing him renown as one of the most important figures in American literature. In 15 volumes of verse he mastered such diverse forms as sonnet, haiku, and epigram, besides publishing novels, plays, and essay collections. He was the son of Charles E. Merrill, a founder of the investment firm now known as Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. While attending Amherst (Mass.) College, Merrill privately printed Jim's Book: A Collection of Poems and Short Stories (1942). His education was interrupted by military service during World War II, but he earned a B.A. in 1947, after which he devoted himself to writing. He produced several volumes of poetry before achieving critical acclaim with Water Street (1962), followed by Nights and Days (1967), for which he won the first of two National Book Awards. The Fire Screen (1969) and Braving the Elements (1972) appeared before Merrill was awarded the Bollingen Prize in 1973 and a Pulitzer Prize for Divine Comedies (1976), a poetry collection. Mirabell: Books of Number (1978) earned him a second National Book Award. The last two volumes and a third, Scripts for the Pageant (1980), were republished as a trilogy with a new epilogue in The Changing Light at Sandover (1982), which was particularly notable because Merrill admitted using a Ouija board to summon and converse with spirits as diverse as W. H. Auden and the archangel Gabriel. As his work became more introspective, Merrill explored such themes as wealth, homosexuality, AIDS, and senility. His last collection of poems, A Scattering of Salts (1995), was published posthumously.

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  • Merrill, James (Ingram) — born March 3, 1926, New York, N.Y., U.S. died Feb. 6, 1995, Tucson, Ariz. U.S. poet. Son of a founder of the investment firm Merrill Lynch, he attended Amherst College. Inherited wealth enabled him to devote his life to poetry. His lyric and epic …   Universalium

  • Merrill, James (Ingram) — (3 mar. 1926, Nueva York, N.Y., EE.UU.–6 feb. 1995, Tucson, Ariz.). Poeta estadounidense. Hijo de uno de los fundadores de la compañía de inversiones Merrill Lynch, estudió en Amherst College. Como heredero de una gran fortuna, pudo dedicar su… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • James Ingram Merrill — James Merrill Pour les articles homonymes, voir Merrill. James Ingram Merrill (3 mars 1926 à New York 6 février 1995), est un important poète américain, et fils d un grand financier. Il a remporté de nombreux prix littéraires …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Merrill, James — ▪ American poet in full  James Ingram Merrill   born March 3, 1926, New York, N.Y., U.S. died Feb. 6, 1995, Tucson, Ariz.       American poet especially known for the fine craftsmanship and wit of his lyric and epic poems.       Merrill was the… …   Universalium

  • James Merrill — James Merill Born March 3, 1926(1926 03 03) New York City, New York, United States Died February 6, 1995(1995 02 06) Tucson, Arizona Occupation Poet …   Wikipedia

  • James — James, Henry James, Henry James, William * * * (as used in expressions) Agee, James Anderson, (James) Maxwell Audubon, John James Baldwin, James (Arthur) Balfour (de Whittingehame), Arthur James, 1 conde Ballard, J(ames) G(raham) Barrie, Sir… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • James Merrill — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Merrill. James Ingram Merrill (3 mars 1926 à New York 6 février 1995), est un important poète américain, et fils d un grand financier. Biographie Cette section est vide, insuffisamment dé …   Wikipédia en Français

  • James — /jaymz/, n. 1. Also called James the Great. one of the 12 apostles, the son of Zebedee and brother of the apostle John. Matt. 4:21. 2. the person identified in Gal. 1:19 as a brother of Jesus: probably the author of the Epistle of St. James. 3.… …   Universalium

  • James Merrill — James Ingram Merrill (* 3. März 1926 in New York City; † 6. Februar 1995 in Arizona) war ein US amerikanischer Schriftsteller und 1977 der Gewinner des Pulitzer Preises in Poesie. Inhaltsverzeichnis 1 Leben 2 Auszeichnungen und Ehrungen …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Ingram — Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom. Sommaire 1 Toponyme 2 Patronyme 3 Préno …   Wikipédia en Français

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