Difference between revisions of "Stephen Spender"
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| − | '''Sir Stephen Spender''' (Stephen Harold Spender, 1909-1950) was a poet and critic. He was born in | + | [[File:Stephen spender.jpg|thumb|Stephen Spender]]'''Sir Stephen Spender''' (Stephen Harold Spender, 1909-1950) was a poet and critic. He was born in [[Kensington]] and educated at Hall School in [[Hampstead]], [[Gresham's School]], [[Holt]], Charlecote School in [[Worthing]], and then University College School, [[Hampstead]]. He went to University College, [[Oxford]], where he became friendly with [[W H Auden]] and met [[Christopher Isherwood]], but left without taking a degree. His place among the Oxford poets was assured by the publication of his ''Twenty Poems'' in 1930. |
He was equally drawn to "boys, gentle and soft" and to "finely moulded" girls. He eventually married twice, but had also tentative experimentation with bronzed German youths. | He was equally drawn to "boys, gentle and soft" and to "finely moulded" girls. He eventually married twice, but had also tentative experimentation with bronzed German youths. | ||
| − | He had a relationship with "Jimmy Younger" (Tony A R Hyndman) an unepmployed working-class boy from [[Cardiff]] who in 1933 became his secretary and traveling companion. They lived together for three years, but in 1936 they broke up and Spender announced his marriage to Inez Pearn | + | He had a relationship with "Jimmy Younger" (Tony A R Hyndman) an unepmployed working-class boy from [[Cardiff]] who in 1933 became his secretary and traveling companion. They lived together for three years, but in 1936 they broke up and Spender announced his marriage to Inez Pearn. They divorced in 1939. In 1941 he married the pianist Natasha Litvin with whom he had two children. |
| − | He founded with Cyril Connolly the magazine ''Horizon'', of which he was co-editor (1939-41), and was co-editor of ''Encounter'' (1953-67). He left ''Encounter'' when he discovered that the magazine was secretly financed by the US Central Intelligence Agency. His earlier poetry has left-wing political content. He worked for UNESCO in Paris, taught at | + | He founded with Cyril Connolly the magazine ''Horizon'', of which he was co-editor (1939-41), and was co-editor of ''Encounter'' (1953-67). He left ''Encounter'' when he discovered that the magazine was secretly financed by the US Central Intelligence Agency. His earlier poetry has left-wing political content. He worked for UNESCO in Paris, taught at Berkeley, and served as a consultant for the Library of Congress. He was knighted for his services to literature in 1983. |
In 1993, Spender sued American novelist David Leavitt for plagarism. Spender's 1951 autobiography ''World Within World'' had daringly told the story of his relationship with a man referred to as "Jimmy Younger". Leavitt's novel, ''While England Sleeps'', drew a bit too heavily on Spender's life story for one of its main characters, "Edward," and the book was withdrawn. | In 1993, Spender sued American novelist David Leavitt for plagarism. Spender's 1951 autobiography ''World Within World'' had daringly told the story of his relationship with a man referred to as "Jimmy Younger". Leavitt's novel, ''While England Sleeps'', drew a bit too heavily on Spender's life story for one of its main characters, "Edward," and the book was withdrawn. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
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Based on an article on the [[Koymasky]] website. | Based on an article on the [[Koymasky]] website. | ||
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| + | {{stub}} | ||
[[Category:Poets]] | [[Category:Poets]] | ||
[[Category:1909 births]] | [[Category:1909 births]] | ||
[[Category:1950 deaths]] | [[Category:1950 deaths]] | ||
Revision as of 20:49, 15 June 2014
He was equally drawn to "boys, gentle and soft" and to "finely moulded" girls. He eventually married twice, but had also tentative experimentation with bronzed German youths.
He had a relationship with "Jimmy Younger" (Tony A R Hyndman) an unepmployed working-class boy from Cardiff who in 1933 became his secretary and traveling companion. They lived together for three years, but in 1936 they broke up and Spender announced his marriage to Inez Pearn. They divorced in 1939. In 1941 he married the pianist Natasha Litvin with whom he had two children.
He founded with Cyril Connolly the magazine Horizon, of which he was co-editor (1939-41), and was co-editor of Encounter (1953-67). He left Encounter when he discovered that the magazine was secretly financed by the US Central Intelligence Agency. His earlier poetry has left-wing political content. He worked for UNESCO in Paris, taught at Berkeley, and served as a consultant for the Library of Congress. He was knighted for his services to literature in 1983.
In 1993, Spender sued American novelist David Leavitt for plagarism. Spender's 1951 autobiography World Within World had daringly told the story of his relationship with a man referred to as "Jimmy Younger". Leavitt's novel, While England Sleeps, drew a bit too heavily on Spender's life story for one of its main characters, "Edward," and the book was withdrawn.
References
Based on an article on the Koymasky website.
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