Nicholas Vachel Lindsay

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Nicholas Vachel Lindsay

Nicholas Vachel Lindsay (born November 10, 1879 in Springfield , Illinois , † December 5, 1931 there ) was an American writer .

Life

Not much is known about Lindsay's childhood and adolescence. From an early age he moved through the country as a migrant worker and tramp . For room and board he often wrote occasional poems.

Lindsay saw himself as a “poetic prophet”, as an “evangelist of the beautiful” ( The gospel of beauty ). One of his main concerns was to inspire the people for poetry. He performed his poetry at fairs, cattle auctions and similar events. The vast majority of his lyrical work shows great optimism. Lindsay also tried to break new ground in terms of form, but couldn't get beyond folklore elements. A strongly accentuated rhythm was also characteristic. He himself described his literary work as Higher Vaudeville .

In 1920 he was elected to the National Institute of Arts and Letters .

Nicholas Vachel Lindsay committed suicide on December 5, 1931, in Springfield, Illinois, at the age of 52.

Works

  • Abraham Lincoln walks at midnight
  • Adventures while preaching the gospel of beauty (1914)
  • The candle in the cabin (1926)
  • The Chinese nightingale and other poems (1917)
  • The Congo and other poems (1914)
  • General William Booth enters into heaven and other poems (1913)
  • The golden book of Springfield (1920)
  • A handy guide for beggars (1916)
  • In praise of Jonny Appleseed
  • The litany of Washington Street (1929)
  • Rhymes to be traded for bread (1912)
  • The tramp's excuse and other poems (1909)

Trivia

Lindsay's poem The Congo gained some notoriety because a few lines from it are quoted in the film The Dead Poets Club : (Translation: "Then God came! I had a face and I turned mockingly to the noise of the festival. Because I saw the Congo gurgling through the night, rolling through the confusion its ripe splendor ... ” ). The same goes for General William Booth enters into heaven , which is sung parallel to the tragic climax.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Members: Nicolas Vachel Lindsay. American Academy of Arts and Letters, accessed April 10, 2019 .
personal data
SURNAME Lindsay, Nicholas Vachel
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American writer
DATE OF BIRTH November 10, 1879
PLACE OF BIRTH Springfield (Illinois)
DATE OF DEATH December 5, 1931
Place of death Springfield (Illinois)