Edna St Vincent Millay lights a candle
On this day in 1892 the American lyrical poet Edna St. Vincent Millay was born. Raised in rural Maine, Millay moved to New York City... Read More
Ezra Pound’s modern poetry
On this day in 1949 American expatriate Ezra Pound won the Bollingen Prize for poetry. Pound was a major figure in literary circles between the... Read More
Amy Lowell, America’s powerful poetess
On this day in 1874 the American poet Amy Lowell was born. By all accounts Lowell was a short and rather plump lady. Ezra Pound... Read More
Langston Hughes champions racial equality
On this day in 1903 the American poet Langston Hughes was born. Hughes was of mixed race and was highly influential in the Harlem Renaissance.... Read More
President Kennedy starts his thousand days
On this day in 1961 the inauguration of President John F Kennedy took place in Washington DC. The 86 year old poet Robert Frost recited... Read More
Edgar Allan Poe’s problematic life
On this day in 1809 the novelist Edgar Allan Poe was born. Although now well-known, he was beset for most of his life with financial... Read More
French King Louis XVI faces the guillotine
On this day in 1793 the French King Louis XVI was sentenced to death by the National Convention in Paris. Louis seems to have been... Read More