Person Detail: Edwin Arlington Robinson

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General Information:
Full Name: Edwin Arlington Robinson
Biography: (1869-1935) Poet, Pulitzer Prize Winner. Edwin Robinson was born in Head Tide, Maine, and attended Harvard University from 1891 - 1893. At the time of his death Robinson was considered by many to be the greatest poet in the United States. He is now best remembered for his short poems characterizing various residents of "Tilbury Town." Robinson grew up in Gardner, Maine (the prototype for "Tilbury Town"). His first volume of verse, "The Torrent and the Night Before," was published at his own expense in 1896. The following year some of these poems were published with additions as "The Children of the Night." In 1899, Robinson settled in New York City, living at 51 Washington Square South, 121 Washington Place, 28 West 8th Street, and 450 West 23rd Street, and supported himself by various odd jobs. A third volume of poetry, "Captain Craig" (1902), was poorly received by critics. Robinson had, however, an admirer in president Theodore Roosevelt, who secured for the struggling poet a job in the New York customs house, where he worked from 1905 to 1909. From 1911 until his death Robinson spent his summers at the MacDowell Colony for artists and writers (in Peterborough, New Hampshire). He finally achieved critical recognition with "The Man Against the Sky" (1916). Thereafter he concentrated on long, psychological narrative poems, such as "Avon's Harvest" (1921), "The Man Who Died Twice" (1924; Pulitzer Prize), "Dionysus in Doubt" (1925), "Cavender's House"(1929), "Talifer" (1933), "King Jasper" (1935) and the Arthurian romances "Merlin" (1917), "Lancelot" (1920), and "Tristram" (1928; Pulitzer Prize). A quiet, introverted man, Robinson never married and became legendary for his reclusiveness. He lived on Richmond Hill, now Lighthouse Hill, around 1913.
Author's Timeline:
1899		New York County In 1899, Robinson settled in New York City, living at 51 Washington Square South, 121 Washington Place, 28 West 8th Street, and 450 West 23rd Street, and supported himself by various odd jobs.
1913		Richmond County Robinson lived on Richmond Hill, now Lighthouse Hill, Staten Island, New York, around 1913.
1864		(Unknown) County Edwin Arlington Robinson was born in Head Tide, Maine, in 1864.
1935		New York County Edwin Robinson died in New York, New York in 1935.
1896		(Unknown) County The Torrent and the Night Before This, his first volume of verse, was published at his own expense in 1896.
1897		(Unknown) County The Children of the Night Collection of poetry.
1902		(Unknown) County Captain Craig A third volume of poetry, "Captain Craig" (1902), was poorly received by critics.
1916		(Unknown) County The Man Against the Sky He finally achieved critical recognition with "The Man Against the Sky."
1921		(Unknown) County Avon's Harvest Long, psychological narrative poem.
1924		(Unknown) County The Man Who Died Twice Long, psychological narrative poem, and winner of the Pulitzer Prize for poetry in 1925.
1925		(Unknown) County Dionysus in Doubt Long, psychological narrative poem.
1929		(Unknown) County Cavender's House Long, psychological narrative poem.
1933		(Unknown) County Talifer Long, psychological narrative poem.
1935		(Unknown) County King Jasper Long, psychological narrative poem.
1917		(Unknown) County Merlin Arthurian romance.
1920		(Unknown) County Lancelot Arthurian romance.
1928		(Unknown) County Tristram Arthurian romance; winner of the Pulitzer Prize for poetry in 1928.
1935		(Unknown) County Edwin Robinson is interred at Oak Grove Cemetery, Gardiner, Kennebec County, Maine.
1921		(Unknown) County Collected Poems Collection of poetry, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for poetry in 1922.