author

Lewis McKenzie Turner

1863–1938

A little-known American poet whose work blends reflection, moral urgency, and a strong feeling for the natural world. Best remembered today for Quartz from the Uplands, he wrote in a serious, searching voice that feels both literary and philosophical.

1 Audiobook

Quartz from the Uplands

Quartz from the Uplands

by Lewis McKenzie Turner

About the author

Lewis McKenzie Turner was an American writer and poet, born in 1863 and died in 1938. Public-domain library records and Project Gutenberg identify him as the author of Quartz from the Uplands, a book first published in 1905 and now preserved as part of the American literary record.

Quartz from the Uplands is a long reflective poem that explores truth, society, individuality, and the pull of nature. Its tone is thoughtful and idealistic, with a strong interest in how modern life can dull the human spirit.

Not much widely available biographical detail about Turner appears to survive online, which makes his work itself the best introduction to him. For listeners who enjoy neglected poets and earnest, idea-driven writing from the early twentieth century, his voice offers an unusual and rewarding discovery.