Orrick Johns

Born in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1887, Orrick Johns became known as a poet, novelist, and literary figure of the early modern period in American writing. He is especially remembered for Asphalt and Other Poems (1911), a debut collection that drew attention for its city-centered imagery and contemporary tone.

Johns spent much of his career moving through the literary world of the 1910s and 1920s, publishing both poetry and fiction. His work was associated with a generation of writers trying to make American poetry sound more immediate and modern, while still remaining accessible to general readers.

He died in 1946. Reliable sources found during this search confirmed his literary reputation and major early work, but did not provide enough solidly verified detail to confidently include more about his personal life here.