Amy Lowell

Amy Lowell (1874-1925) was an influential American poet and a prominent figure in the Imagist movement. Born into a wealthy and prominent New England family in Brookline, Massachusetts, she was the youngest of five children. Lowell did not attend college, but she was well-educated through private tutors and extensive travel, developing a deep passion for literature.

In her thirties, Lowell fully embraced her calling as a poet. She published her first collection, "A Dome of Many-Coloured Glass," in 1912. Influenced by Japanese haiku and French Symbolist poetry, Lowell became a leading proponent of Imagism, a movement advocating for clear, sharp language and free verse. Her works, including "Sword Blades and Poppy Seed" (1914) and "Men, Women, and Ghosts" (1916), were celebrated for their vivid imagery and precise language.

Lowell was also a dedicated literary critic and editor. She played a crucial role in publicizing and promoting contemporary poetry, including the works of Ezra Pound and Hilda Doolittle (H.D.). Her robust and energetic personality, combined with her penchant for smoking cigars and wearing men's clothing, made her a striking and controversial figure in literary circles.

Amy Lowell received the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry posthumously in 1926 for her collection "What's O'Clock." Her legacy endures through her contributions to modernist poetry and her unyielding advocacy for the art.