Conrad Potter Aiken (1889–1973) was an American poet, short-story writer, novelist, and critic. His works, influenced by early psychoanalytic theory, are concerned chiefly with the human need for self-awareness and a sense of identity.
Born in Savannah, Georgia, Aiken experienced considerable trauma in his childhood—he found the bodies of his parents after his physician father had killed his mother and committed suicide.
Aiken was educated at Harvard, where his roommate was the poet T S Eliot, and his contemporaries were the humorist Robert Benchley and the political commentator Walter Lippmann. Most of his writing career was divided between Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and Rye, England. His children include the writers Jane Aiken Hodge and Joan Aiken.
Aiken made his name with his first collection of verses. Earth Triumphant (1914) followed by other volumes, including Turns and Intervals (1917,) Punch, the Immortal Liar (1921,) and Senlin (1925.) His Selected Poems (1930) won the Pulitzer.
Aiken also wrote short stories and novels, including Bring! Bring! (1925,) Blue Voyage (1927,) the autobiographical Great Circle (1933,) King Coffin (1956,) and another autobiographical novel, Ushant (1952.)
Jay Martin wrote the assessment Conrad Aiken: A Life of His Art (1962.)
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Conrad Aiken
A small but brilliant advance made today by someone’s awareness may for the moment reach a very small audience, but insofar as it’s valid and beautiful, it will make its way and become part of the whole world of consciousness. So in that sense it’s all working toward this huge audience, and all working toward a better man.
—Conrad Aiken
All lovely things will have an ending, All lovely things will fade and die; And youth, that’s now so bravely spending, Will beg a penny by and by.
—Conrad Aiken
Topics: Youth
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