E. A. Robinson AMERICA’S FIRST 20 TH CENTURY POET

Early Life Born December 22, Grew up in Gardiner, Maine. Father a successful merchant and local politician. Youngest of three sons. Graduated Gardiner High School. Always had an interest in words and writing. Joined local writing and poetry groups and met influential people. Attended Harvard College for two years.

Some Hard Times (Year of Woes) Family suffers financial losses (1893). He has to drop out of school and move back to Gardiner. Father dies soon after financial failure. Mother dies of diphtheria (1896) Oldest brother, Dean, the owner of a pharmacy, dies of a drug overdose (1899). His brother Herman fails in his business ventures and becomes alcoholic. E. A. ends up providing financially for Herman’s three children.

E. A.’s Failed Romances Meets Emma Shepherd and falls in love with her. She is a few years older than E. A. and ends up with his older brother Herman who is charismatic, handsome, and seems bound for success. They move to St. Louis. Herman’s failed business investments leave them in poverty. They are forced to sell the family house in Gardiner to settle his debts. Emma and her children move in with her family. Hermann dies in E. A. proposes marriage two more times to Emma; she refuses.

Influences on his Poetry Joined Gardiner Poetry Group. Meets an influential woman of Gardiner, Laura Richards. At college, he associates with others interested in writing and publishing. After returning to Gardiner, he publishes books of his poetry. Critics give them good reviews, but they don’t earn him much money. Laura Richards’ son introduced Kermit Roosevelt, son of Theodore Roosevelt, to E. A.’s poetry. Theodore Roosevelt enjoys the writing and writes a review for the next publication.

Awards and Recognition E. A. receives the Pulitzer Prize in 1922, 1925, and 1928 for poetry. Published over 20 books of collections of his poetry. Also wrote plays and fiction. Dedicated one of his books The Town Down the River to Theodore Roosevelt. Roosevelt appoints Robinson to a paid position at the U.S. Customs House primarily to promote and continue his writing. He stays in this position until Roosevelt leaves office.

Later Years Enjoys mild success with his writing. Dies of cancer on April 6, 1935 in New York City. His ashes were returned to Gardiner to be interred in the Robinson plot in Oak Grove Cemetery.