author
Leonora Speyer
1872–1956
A gifted violinist who later won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry, she moved with unusual ease between concert halls and the world of letters. Her life joined music, travel, and literary ambition in a way that still feels strikingly modern.
1 Audiobook
Fiddler's farewell
by Leonora Speyer
About the author
Born in Washington, D.C., in 1872, Leonora Speyer was an American violinist and poet. She studied music in Europe and performed professionally under noted conductors, building an early reputation as a serious musician before her writing career fully came into view.
She is best remembered today for her poetry, especially Fiddler's Farewell, which won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1927. That honor reflected the same musical sensitivity that shaped her life as a performer, and her poems are often noted for their rhythm, wit, and polished craft.
Speyer died in New York City in 1956. Her story stands out because she succeeded in two demanding arts, leaving behind the rare example of an author whose literary voice was deeply informed by a life in music.