author
George Sterling
1869–1926
A leading voice of California’s early literary scene, this poet and playwright brought rich, musical language to visions of nature, myth, and bohemian life. His work moved among the circles of San Francisco and Carmel, where he became one of the best-known writers of his day.
1 Audiobook
The House of Orchids, and Other Poems
by George Sterling
About the author
Born in Sag Harbor, New York, in 1869, George Sterling became closely identified with California’s literary world after moving west and settling in the San Francisco Bay Area. He was known as a poet, playwright, and central figure in the bohemian culture that flourished there in the early twentieth century.
Sterling’s poetry is often noted for its lush, formal style and its attraction to grand subjects: the natural world, dreamlike symbolism, and mythic or cosmic themes. He was admired by a wide range of fellow writers, and his life and work became especially associated with San Francisco and Carmel-by-the-Sea.
Though not as widely read now as some of his contemporaries, Sterling remains an important part of American literary history on the West Coast. Readers who enjoy richly textured language, romantic intensity, and a glimpse of California’s vibrant artistic past may find his work especially rewarding.