Ezra Pound Biography

Ezra Pound is first remembered as a great modernist poet, but for some historians, he is also remembered as a traitor. Pound was living in Italy at the time of World War II and publicly wrote and spoke in favor of the Axis. He highly disagreed with the involvement of the United States, despite the fact that he was an American. Pound was indicted for treason in 1943, and when the war was over, he was brought back to the United States and found incompetent to stand trial. Instead, he spent twelve years in a mental institution. His writings, however, from that time appear to be from a sane person’s perspective. Even though Pound is a somewhat controversial figure in American history, his writing (particularly the epic Cantos) is considered a major contribution to American literature. 

Facts and Trivia

  • Pound was a great admirer of William Butler Yeats, believing him to be the greatest living poet at the time. They even lived together for a short time during World War I, and Pound briefly served as Yeats’ secretary.
  • Pound was married to Dorothy Shakespear, who was the daughter of Olivia Shakespear, a former lover of W. B. Yeats. A few years after marrying Shakespear, Pound began a romantic relationship with violinist Olga Rudge. The three carried on a romantic relationship until Pound’s death nearly fifty years later.
  • Pound was also a noted translator of Asian literature. He revived many Confucian works and brought Japanese poetry and drama into the forefront in America and Europe.
  • Music became a large part of Pound’s life in the 1920s. He is mainly responsible for bringing Vivaldi’s music back into popularity.
  • Pound was friends with Ernest Hemingway, who tried to teach Pound to box. Hemingway said of the experience, “I was never able to teach him to throw a left hook.”

Biography

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Ezra Pound's life was a tapestry of artistic innovation, intellectual exploration, and controversy. Born in the late 19th century, he became a pivotal figure in the modernist movement, influencing a generation of poets and writers. However, his life was also marred by political missteps and personal challenges, which complicated his legacy.

Early Life and Education

Born on October 30, 1885, in Hailey, Idaho, Ezra Pound spent his early years in Wyncote, a suburb of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where his father worked at the U.S. Mint. During his high school years, Pound developed a passion for Latin, which spurred his interest in poetry and literary history. His academic journey took him to the University of Pennsylvania, where he encountered fellow future poets William Carlos Williams and Hilda Doolittle. He later attended Hamilton College in New York, earning his degree in 1905 before returning to the University of Pennsylvania to further his studies in languages such as Old English, Old French, Provençal, Italian, and Latin. Despite obtaining his master’s degree in 1906, Pound faced difficulties fitting into conservative Indiana society while teaching at Wabash College, leading to his dismissal following an incident considered inappropriate at the time.

Journey to Europe and Literary Success

Pound's disillusionment with American conservatism motivated him to pursue a literary career in Europe. His first stop was Venice, Italy, where he published a modest collection of poetry but struggled financially. Leaving Venice for London, Pound quickly immersed himself in the city's vibrant literary scene. He soon became a significant presence in the imagist movement, aligning himself with notable writers like Richard Aldington, Wyndham Lewis, and T. S. Eliot. As the foreign editor of Harriet Monroe’s Poetry magazine, Pound championed the modernist cause, advocating for innovative forms and themes in English-language poetry. His own work drew from diverse influences, including Chinese and Japanese art forms and medieval European poetry, all under his guiding principle to “make it new.”

The Impact of War and "The Cantos"

The outbreak of World War I in 1914 marked a significant turning point in Pound's life. Remaining in England with his wife Dorothy, a British national, Pound kept his literary focus even as the war raged. In 1917, he embarked on an ambitious project, The Cantos, a lifelong poetic endeavor that sought to weave historical narrative into verse. His dissatisfaction with London led to his move to Paris in 1920, where he bid farewell to the city with "Hugh Selwyn Mauberley," his last short poem.

Life in Paris and Move to Italy

While in Paris, Pound found himself overshadowed by Gertrude Stein at the center of the literary world. Disenchanted with the frivolity of the "lost generation," he sought a quieter life, relocating to Rapallo, Italy. Here, his vision of himself evolved from poet to intellectual sage, believing he could influence global discourse. His studies veered into history and economics, leading to a controversial admiration for Mussolini's fascism and a troubling rise in anti-Semitic sentiment. Despite these distractions, he continued to work on The Cantos while vocally supporting fascist ideologies and criticizing Roosevelt and capitalism.

World War II and Subsequent Arrest

During the Second World War, Pound's attempt to return to America was thwarted, and he began broadcasting propaganda for Italy, leading to an indictment for treason by the U.S. government in 1943. After the fall of Italy, he was captured and held in a cage in Pisa before being transported to Washington, D.C., to stand trial. Deemed mentally unfit for trial, Pound avoided execution but was confined to a mental hospital for thirteen years, during which he remained steadfast in his controversial beliefs....

(This entire section contains 715 words.)

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Despite his incarceration, he continued to write, producingThe Pisan Cantos, which earned him the Bollingen Library of Congress Award in 1949.

Later Years and Legacy

Released from the hospital in 1958, Pound returned to Italy to spend his remaining years in Venice. Though he initially maintained his literary pursuits, he succumbed to depression and became reclusive in the early 1960s. Despite visits from poets such as Allen Ginsberg, Pound fell into profound silence. Towards the end of his life, he finally began to receive recognition for his literary contributions, thanks in part to his publisher, James Laughlin. Ezra Pound passed away in Venice in November 1972, leaving behind a complex legacy marked by both profound artistic influence and personal controversy.

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