author
Louis Untermeyer
1885–1977
A lively American man of letters, he helped generations of readers discover poetry through his own verse, essays, and hugely influential anthologies. His work brought modern poetry into classrooms and living rooms across the United States.
1 Audiobook
Challenge
by Louis Untermeyer
About the author
Born in New York City on October 1, 1885, Louis Untermeyer grew up in a family connected to the jewelry trade and left school early to work in the family business. Even so, he pursued literature seriously on his own and went on to build a long career as a poet, critic, editor, and translator.
Untermeyer became especially well known for his anthologies, which introduced many readers and students to contemporary poetry. He wrote, edited, or translated more than 100 books, and his career stretched across much of the twentieth century. In 1961, he was appointed Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress, a role now associated with the U.S. Poet Laureate.
He died in Newtown, Connecticut, on December 18, 1977. Today he is remembered not only for his own poems, but also for the enthusiastic, wide-ranging way he helped make poetry feel accessible to everyday readers.