He earned numerous awards for his poetry, including the bollingen prize for braving the elements, the pulitzer prize for divine comedies and a second national book award for mirabell. James merrill, too, is a brilliant writer, operating on a level of high style. James merrill, in full james ingram merrill, born march 3, 1926, new york, n. James merrill s seventh collection features a superlative long narrative poem, the book of ephraim, which anyone who cares about modern poetry simply must read.
Be with, by forrest gander new directions a collection of elegies that grapple with sudden loss, and the difficulties of expressing grief and yearning for the departed. James merrill james ingram merrill was born in new york city on march 3, 1926. From the mid1950s on, he lived in stonington, connecticut, and for extended periods he. Pulitzer prize, any of a series of annual prizes awarded by columbia university, new york city, for outstanding public service and achievement in american journalism, letters, and music. Merrills partner of three decades was david jackson, a writer and artist. Divine comedies, by james merrill atheneum the pulitzer prizes.
James merrill was recognized as one of the leading poets of his generation. The first 32 pages are typescripts on cotton bond paper, with minimal corrections in. James merrill, divine comedies 1976 dante today citings. Merrill won a pulitzer prize for divine comedies and a second national book award for mirabell. Praised for his stylish elegance, moral sensibilities, and transformation of autobiographical moments into deep and complex meditations, merrill s work spans genresincluding plays and prosebut the bulk of his artistic. James ingram merrill march 3, 1926 february 6, 1995 was an american poet. James merrill in 1977, the year his book divine comedies won the. Yeats recurred throughout merrills career, particularly during the periods in which merrill wrote divine comedies and his masterwork, the changing light at sandover. Merrill won every major literary award, including the pulitzer divine comedies, 1976 and two national book awards nights and days, 1967 and mirabell. Divine comedies is the watershed book of james merrill s life as a poet. Divine comedies, the title of the volume that includes the book of ephraim, seems to have been prophetic. Auden and william butler yeats, james merrill 19261995 is best known for his series of poems inspired by the automatic writing and messages of spirit guides through the medium of an ouija board. Auto suggestions are available once you type at least 3 letters.
Merrills collection of poems includes one, the book of ephraim, which is an account of. Jul 07, 2009 james merrill, divine comedies 1976 merrills collection of poems includes one, the book of ephraim, which is an account of conversations held, via the ouija board, with dead friends and spirits in another world. Eerily apt puns render individual words indelibly double. The book of ephraim, which first appeared as the final poem in james merrills pulitzerwinning volume divine comedies 1976, tells the story of how he and his partner david jackson jm and dj as they came to be known embarked on their experiments with the ouija board and how they conversed after a fashion with great writers and. Divine comedies is the seventh book of poetry by james merrill 19261995.
These poems were collected in the changing light at sandover 1982 while merrills poems are not self. Although most of his published work was poetry, he also wrote essays, fiction, and plays. Merrill, founding partner of the merrill lynch investment firm, merrill enjoyed a highly privileged upbringing in economic. The tone of easy, intimate conversation is a stylistic achievement. James merrill, divine comedies 1976 merrills collection of poems includes one, the book of ephraim, which is an account of conversations held, via the ouija board, with dead friends and spirits in another world. The book of ephraim excerpt by james merrill poetry daily. A biography of james merrill looks at the work that grew from his life. Merrill and his longtime companion, david jackson, had been experimenting with a homemade ouija board since 1955. Merrill and his friend david jackson receive the messages which are transcribed letter by letter. Merrills will be a trilogy, and will narrate an ascent. Merrill and jackson met in new york city after a performance of merrills play the bait at.
Published in 1976 see 1976 in poetry, the volume includes lost in translation and all of the book of ephraim. His divine comedies features an affable ghost named ephraim who instructs the poet. Yeatss a vision features the spirit leo africanus in a similar role. Embracing mysticism and the occult, merrill believed, like yeatswhose wife was a mediumthat he received inspiration from the world beyond. Merrill and jackson met in new york city after a performance of merrills play the bait at the comedy club in 1953. Merrill is formally graceful not just on the scale of entire. Born in new york city to hellen ingram merrill and charles e. James merrills seventh collection features a superlative long narrative poem, the book of ephraim, which anyone who cares about modern poetry simply must read. James merrill was a poet whose awards include the pulitzer prize for poetry 1977 for divine comedies 1976. Search for library items search for lists search for contacts search for a library.
His virgil is ephraim, a familiar who, operating via a teacup pointer and a ouija board, reveals to merrill the secrets of time and the lives beyond death. Apr 29, 1979 divine comedies, the title of the volume that includes the book of ephraim, seems to have been prophetic. These poems were completed with scripts for the pageant 1980. Just as merrill once said that proust managed through superhuman counterpoint to workthe bodys resurrection, sense by sense divine comedies 126, it is by forgoing the superficial and uncovering the underlying sense that merrill resurrects this body. Making sense of the past, present, and future is an ambitious task, but this is precisely what is being attempted in james merrills divine comedies. Published in 1976 see 1976 in poetry, the volume includes lost in translation. James ingram merrill was an american poet whose awards include the pulitzer prize for poetry 1977 for divine comedies. James ingram merrill 19261995 find a grave memorial. View folder 5390 title divine comedies drafts 1 of 2 subject merrill, james, 19261995divine comedies description drafts of poems toward divine comedies.
Books of number 1978, poetry scripts for the pageant 1980, poetry the changing light at sandover 1982, poetry from the first nine 1982, poetry late settings 1985, poetry recitative 1986, essays the inner room 1988, poetry selected poems, 19461985 1992, poetry a different person 1993. A society of cultivated readers might give his divine comedies a high place. He died in 1995 from a heart attack brought on by complications from aids. When you called your last book divine comedies, did. The book of ephraim, a 90page narrative poem in that volume, recounted the poets adventures over more than 20 years in consultation with his ouija board.
Until his death, merrill continued to produce poetry of note, as well as a memoir, a different person 1993, which reflected not only on his family, but on his. He has always been a poet of eros, but in an unwritten novel, about the incarnation and withdrawal of a god, the forces joined by eros come briefly together and then disperse. James ingram merrill was born in new york city on march 3, 1926. From the mid1950s on, he lived in stonington, connecticut, and for extended periods he also had houses in athens and key west. He was awarded the pulitzer prize for poetry for divine comedies. Poems paperback january 1, 1977 by james ingram merrill author visit amazons james ingram merrill page. The book of ephraim is the first of three books which make up the changing light at sandover. He won the pulitzer prize in 1977 for the divine comedies. Merrills poetry falls into 2 distinct bodies of work. James merrill, american poet especially known for the fine craftsmanship and wit of his lyric and epic poems. The poetry of james merrill published october 20th, 2016. His virgil is ephraim, a familiar who, operating via a teacup pointer and a ouija board, reveals to merrill the secrets of time and the lives. Characterized by resolution and reconciliation and by proustian recall, it is his most important book.
The prizes are highly esteemed and have been awarded each may since 1917. The first 32 pages are typescripts on cotton bond paper, with minimal corrections in merrill s hand in pencil or blue felttip pen. He was awarded the pulitzer prize for poetry in 1977 for divine comedies. Dive deep into james merrills divine comedies with extended analysis, commentary, and discussion. Recently reread book of ephraim the first part of merrills ouija board epic about his decades long connection with various spirits who provide insights into the. James ingram merrill 19261995 was an american poet who also published prose, drama and nonfiction. Introduced and annotated by stephen yenser the book of ephraim, which first appeared as the final poem in james merrills pulitzerwinning volume divine comedies 1976, tells the story of how he and his partner david jackson embarked on their experiments with the ouija board and how they conversed after a fashion with great writers and thinkers of the past, especially in regard to the. James merrill, 68, a pulitzer prizewinning poet who was the author of 14 volumes of verse as well as novels, plays, essays and autobiographical works, died feb. James merrill 1926 1995 was an american author and poet. Characterized by resolution and reconciliation and by proustian recall, it. In 1956, he used portion of his inheritance to establish the ingram merrill foundation in new york city, which has. World heritage encyclopedia, the aggregation of the largest online encyclopedias available, and the most definitive collection ever assembled. View folder 5390 title divine comedies drafts 1 of 2 subject merrill, james, 19261995 divine comedies description drafts of poems toward divine comedies.
Mar 21, 1976 james merrill, too, is a brilliant writer, operating on a level of high style. The equivocal nothings lostor else of lost in translation. It is, as merrill quips, something of a lowbudget remake of the paradise. The merrill archive the james merrill digital archive.
In addition to poetry he wrote novels, plays and essays. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Divine comedies marks a departure in merrills work. Divine comedies, by james merrill atheneum the pulitzer. A smooth, conversational narrative style had been established in merrill s poetry by the early 1970s, paving the way for his major works, divine comedies 1976 and mirabell. He was and remains recognized as one of the most important poets of the 20 th century. The book of ephraim, which first appeared as the final poem in james merrills pulitzerwinning volume divine comedies 1976, tells the story of how he and his partner david jackson embarked on their experiments with the ouija board and how they conversed after a fashion with great writers and thinkers of the past, especially in regard. Books of number, in which he continues his account, begun in the book of ephraim published in divine comedies, of conversations held, via the ouija board, with dead friends and spirits in another world. A memoir titled a different person came out in 1993, and his 15th volume of poetry, a scattering of salts. Divine comedies is the watershed book of james merrills life as a poet. With the publication of james merrills divine comedies in 1976, it became apparent that the oracles had not ceased but had merely relocated in connecticut. Praised for his stylish elegance, moral sensibilities, and transformation of autobiographical moments into deep and complex meditations, merrills work spans genresincluding plays and prosebut the bulk of his artistic expression can be found in his poetry. Merrill s poetry falls into 2 distinct bodies of work.
James ingram merrill was born on march 3, 1926, and died on february 6, 1995. Be with, by forrest gander new directions a collection of. Merrill, a founder of merrill lynch, an investmentbanking firm. The academy of american poets is the largest membershipbased nonprofit organization fostering an appreciation for contemporary poetry and supporting american poets. Poems by merrill, james and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.