Stephen Spender
Great BritainBiography of Stephen Spender
Stephen Spender was an English poet and critic. Born on February 28, 1909 in London, he studied at the University of Oxford. He was part of a group of revolutionary writers, including W.H. Auden, Christopher Isherwood, C. Day Lewis, and Louis MacNeice. Spender first gained recognition with his collection of poems, "Poems," published in 1933.
A Brilliant Critic
From the very beginning, Spender showed himself to be a brilliant critic. His book of essays on contemporary literature, "The Destructive Element" (1935), garnered almost as much interest as his poetry. He served as co-editor of influential journals, "Horizon" from 1939 to 1941, and "Encounter" from 1953 to 1967.
A Political Voice
Spender's poetry was characterized by its political fervor and activism. His poems often criticized capitalism and celebrated the struggles of the working class. In his poem "Vienna" (1934), he praised the courage of Viennese socialists who rose against the government of Engelbert Dollfuss. Spender also released an anti-fascist verse play, "The Trial of a Judge" (1938), and co-edited an anthology with John Lehmann, titled "Poems for Spain" (1939), inspired by the Spanish Civil War.
Later Works
While Spender's later collections, such as "The Still Centre" (1939), "Ruins and Visions" (1942), and "Poems of Dedication" (1946), were criticized for their self-centeredness and lack of conviction, he continued to write and publish critical works, fiction, autobiography, and memoirs. In 1986, a collection of Spender's poems from 1928 to 1985 was published.
Legacy and Demise
Spender's literary contributions were recognized with a knighthood in 1983. He passed away on July 16, 1995 in London.
