Denise Levertov

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Denise Levertov (October 24, 1923 - December 20, 1997) was a British born American poet. Born in Ilford, Essex, England, her mother was Welsh, and her father was an Anglican parson who had immigrated from Germany, and had been raised a Hasidic Jew.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

She was educated at home, had an early childhood enthusiasm for writing, and at the age of 12 sent some of her poetry to T. S. Eliot who replied with a two page letter of encouragement.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

She served as a civilian nurse in London during the bombings of World War II.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Her first book of poetry, The Double Image, was published in 1946.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

She married an American writer, Mitchell Goodman, in 1947, and moved to the United States in 1948, living primarily in New York City, and in Maine during the summer. In 1955, she became a naturalized citizen of the United States.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

She published her first American book Here and Now in 1956, and with the publication of With Eyes at the Back of our Heads in 1959 she began to gain wide acclaim. She went on to publish many prize-winning volumes of poetry, become involved in anti-war movements, and for eleven years, from 1982 to 1993 taught at Stanford University.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

She died on December 27, 1997 at the age of 74, from complications of lymphoma.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

October 24: October 24 is the 297th day of the year (298th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 68 days remaining....

1923: 1923 was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar)....

December 20: December 20 is the 354th day of the year (355th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are 11 days remaining....

Denise Levertov related Images and Photos (experimental)

Denise Nicholas	Denise Williams	Denise Nicholas	Denise Richards
Denise Van Outen	Denise Van Outen	Denise Richards - Wild Things	Denise Profile Look to the Left White Lace Collar