Howard Nemerov (1920–91) was an American poet, novelist, and critic. The subjects of his poems varied widely.
Born in a Russian Jewish family in New York City, Nemerov graduated from Harvard University and served as a pilot in World War II in a Royal Canadian Air Force unit attached to the U.S. Army Air Force. After the war, he taught at various instaurations including Washington University-St. Louis 1969–91.
Nemerov wrote several novels, including The Melodramatics (1949,) but won more acclaim as a poet. He was a consultant in poetry to the Library of Congress 1963–64 and poet laureate of the U.S. for two terms 1988–90. His verse includes The Image and the Law (1947) and The Next Room of the Dream (1962.) His Collected Poems (1977) won the Pulitzer, the Bollingen Prize, and the National Book Award.
Nemerov’s fiction includes The Melodramatists (1949,) The Homecoming Game (1957,) and A Commodity of Dreams and Other Stories (1960.) His critical writing includes Reflections on Poetry and Poetics (1972) and Figures of Thought (1978.)
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Howard Nemerov
The only way out is the way through, just as you cannot escape from death except by dying. Being unable to write, you must examine in writing this being unable, which becomes for the present—henceforth?—the subject to which you are condemned.
—Howard Nemerov
Topics: Writing, Authors & Writing, Writers
Obvious enough that generalities work to protect the mind from the great outdoors; is it possible that this was in fact their first purpose?
—Howard Nemerov
Nothing in the universe can travel at the speed of light, they say, forgetful of the shadow’s speed.
—Howard Nemerov
Topics: Light, Travel, Speed, Perspective
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