Delmore Schwartz

Delmore Schwartz (December 8, 1913 - July 11, 1966) was an American poet from Brooklyn, New York. His first published work was the short story "In Dreams Begin Responsibilities", which was published in 1937 in the Partisan Review. This and other short stories and poems were collected and released in his first book, In Dreams Begin Responsibilities and Other Stories (ISBN 0811206807) (1938). It was well-received, and made him a well-known figure in New York intellectual circles. There he became known as a democratic Socialist, and associated with Irving Howe.

Related Topics:
December 8 - 1913 - July 11 - 1966 - American - Brooklyn - New York - 1937 - Partisan Review - 1938 - Democratic Socialist - Irving Howe

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Over the next three decades he published numerous stories, poems, and plays, and edited the Partisan Review from 1943 to 1955. In 1959, he became the youngest recipient of the Bollingen Prize, awarded for a collection of poetry he released that year, Summer Knowledge: New and Selected Poems. His poem "Calmly We Walk Through This April's Day" from this collection, along with "In Dreams Begin Responsibilities", inspired the Star Trek movie .

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1943 - 1955 - 1959 - Bollingen Prize - Star Trek

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The expression "In Dreams Begin Responsibilities" is a favorite among literary intellectuals and shows up in unexpected places (i.e. the movie Deep Cover http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104073/).

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However, his later life was marred by alcoholism and finally insanity; this downward spiral following his initial success formed the basis for Saul Bellow's novel Humboldt's Gift (1975 ISBN 0140189440).

Related Topics:
Alcoholism - Insanity - Saul Bellow - Humboldt's Gift - 1975

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In 1962, Schwartz began teaching Creative Writing at Syracuse University. One of his students was future singer-songwriter Lou Reed, who dedicated several songs to his mentor (most notably "European Son"). Schwartz reportedly told Reed at one point "You can write—and if you ever sell out and there's a Heaven from which you can be haunted, I'll haunt you," and Reed never forgot. He attended Schwartz's funeral in 1966, and years later in his song "My House", Reed told a story of a ghost in his new home (who spells out D-E-L-M-O-R-E on an Ouija board), that didn't spook him, but inspired him instead.

Related Topics:
1962 - Syracuse University - Lou Reed - Ouija

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