Jack Gilbert (1) (1925–2012)
Author of The Great Fires: Poems, 1982-1992
For other authors named Jack Gilbert, see the disambiguation page.
About the Author
Jack Gilbert was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on February 17, 1925. He received a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Pittsburgh in 1954 and a master's from San Francisco State in 1963. He also attended Jack Spicer's Magic Poetry Workshop. His first collection of poetry, Views show more of Jeopardy, won the 1961 Yale Younger Poets Prize and was published in 1962. His other works include Monolithos, which won the Stanley Kunitz Prize and the American Poetry Review Prize; The Dance Most of All; Transgressions: Selected Poems; Refusing Heaven, which won the National Book Critics Circle Award; and The Great Fires: Poems 1982-1992. He died after developing pneumonia on November 13, 2012 at the age of 87. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Image credit: Julio Granda
Works by Jack Gilbert
Associated Works
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Other names
- Kung, Tor (pseudonym)
- Birthdate
- 1925-02-17
- Date of death
- 2012-11-13
- Gender
- male
- Nationality
- USA
- Birthplace
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Place of death
- Berkeley, California, USA
- Places of residence
- Northhampton, Massachusetts, USA
England, UK
Denmark
Greece - Education
- Peabody High School
University of Pittsburgh - Occupations
- poet
- Relationships
- Gregg, Linda (lover)
Ulewicz, Laura (lover) - Awards and honors
- Lannan Literary Award (Poetry, 1994)
Guggenheim Fellowship
National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship
Members
Reviews
Refusing heaven : poems by Jack Gilbert
The only thing Gilbert's collection refuses is any sort of significant engagement with life that isn't flaccid, White, and upper middle class. The times when he does cast about for others they feel like objects, strangers.
An uncompromising book about living willfully. This is my favorite book by my favorite living poet. If I have not bought it for you yet, I will.
There is a vastness and passionate solemnity to these poems that only Jack Gilbert can achieve with such lucidity. His powers are undiminished. All hail.
This is my first exposure to Gilbert. He's not, I think, my cup of tea. There were several poems I liked, but only one (Rain) I loved. I did enjoy the way this book took me through his life's work, though. And some of his imagery was terrific. There was one poem about old men going back to the farm of their youth that really resonated with me. I'm glad I read this book, but it's not one I need on my shelf.
Awards
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Associated Authors
Statistics
- Works
- 9
- Also by
- 9
- Members
- 944
- Popularity
- #27,223
- Rating
- 4.2
- Reviews
- 15
- ISBNs
- 40
- Favorited
- 9