Wystan Hugh Auden
- Born:
- 21 February 1907, York, England
- Died:
- 29 September 1973, Vienna, Austria
- Nationality:
- British (later American citizen)
- Profession(s):
- Poet, Playwright, Essayist, Librettist, Critic
Early Life and Education
- Born into a family with strong ties to the Church of England.
- Educated at St Edmund's School, Hindhead, and Gresham's School, Holt.
- Studied natural sciences before switching to English at Christ Church, Oxford.
- Influenced by Thomas Hardy, Edward Thomas, and Sigmund Freud during his formative years.
Career and Major Achievements
- Early poetry established him as a leading voice of the 1930s generation.
- Served in the Spanish Civil War as an ambulance driver.
- Emigrated to the United States in 1939 and became an American citizen.
- Taught at various American universities, including Swarthmore College, Bryn Mawr College, and the University of Michigan.
- Professor of Poetry at Oxford University (1956-1961).
- Won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1948 for "The Age of Anxiety: A Baroque Eclogue."
- Received the National Medal for Literature in 1967.
Notable Works
- Poetry Collections: Poems (1930), The Orators (1932), Look, Stranger! (1936), Another Time (1940), The Age of Anxiety (1947), Nones (1951), About the House (1965), City Without Walls (1969), Thank You, Fog: Last Poems (1974).
- Plays (with Christopher Isherwood): The Dog Beneath the Skin (1935), The Ascent of F6 (1936), On the Frontier (1938).
- Libretti: The Rake's Progress (with Chester Kallman, for Igor Stravinsky).
- Essays: The Dyer's Hand (1962).
Legacy and Impact
W. H. Auden's work explored themes of love, politics, religion, and the human condition, establishing him as one of the most influential poets of the 20th century. Discussions surrounding an 'auden biography w.h.' often highlights his masterful use of language, his intellectual depth, and his ability to capture the anxieties and aspirations of his time.