Robert Penn Warren
- Born:
- April 24, 1905, Guthrie, Kentucky, USA
- Died:
- September 15, 1989, Stratton, Vermont, USA
- Nationality:
- American
- Profession(s):
- Novelist, Poet, Literary Critic, Professor
Early Life and Education
- Warren initially planned a career in the military, but a serious eye injury prevented his entry into the United States Naval Academy.
- Attended Vanderbilt University, graduating summa cum laude in 1925.
- While at Vanderbilt, he was associated with the Fugitives, a group of Southern poets and intellectuals.
- Earned an M.A. from the University of California, Berkeley in 1927.
- Received a Rhodes Scholarship and attended New College, Oxford, earning a B.Litt. in 1930.
Career and Major Achievements
- Began his teaching career at Southwestern College (now Rhodes College) in Memphis, Tennessee.
- Taught at Vanderbilt University, Louisiana State University (where he co-founded The Southern Review), and Yale University.
- Two-time Pulitzer Prize winner for Poetry (1958, 1979).
- Pulitzer Prize winner for Fiction (1947) for All the King's Men.
- National Medal for Literature (1970).
- National Medal of Arts (1987).
- Served as the first Poet Laureate of the United States (1986-1987).
Notable Works
- Novels: All the King's Men, Night Rider, World Enough and Time.
- Poetry Collections: Promises: Poems 1954-1956, Now and Then: Poems 1976-1978, Audubon: A Vision.
- Literary Criticism: Understanding Poetry (with Cleanth Brooks), Understanding Fiction (with Cleanth Brooks).
Legacy and Impact
Robert Penn Warren was a pivotal figure in 20th-century American literature, distinguished as a novelist, poet, critic, and educator. His exploration of Southern identity, morality, and the complexities of human nature continues to resonate with readers and scholars. The study of the biography of robert penn warren reveals a career marked by exceptional talent and enduring influence.