James Merrill

James Merrill (1926-1995) was a celebrated American poet, known for his lyric and epic poems' craftsmanship and wit. Born into wealth as the son of Charles E. Merrill, he dedicated his life to poetry after graduating from Amherst College.

Merrill's early works showed formal mastery but were somewhat impersonal. His style evolved to become more autobiographical, focusing on his romantic and domestic life. His epic trilogy, Divine Comedies (1976), Mirabell: Books of Number (1978), and Scripts for the Pageant (1980), later published as The Changing Light at Sandover (1982), solidified his reputation. This extensive work used a Ouija board to converse with spirits, blending wit and seriousness.

James Merrill (1926-1995) was an American poet celebrated for his exceptional skill and wit in both his lyric and epic poems. His early works displayed formal mastery but were seen as somewhat impersonal. Later, collections like Water Street (1962) and Nights and Days (1966), which won a National Book Award, revealed a more personal vision, focusing on poignant moments in his life. Merrill gained prominence with his epic poem The Changing Light at Sandover (1982), a 17,000-line work that utilized a Ouija board to converse with spirits, blending wit and seriousness. He received the Library of Congress’s first Bobbitt National Prize for Poetry for The Inner Room (1988).

James Merrill, an American poet celebrated for his craftsmanship and wit, gained recognition with Nights and Days (1966), which won the National Book Award in Poetry. His autobiographical verse often captured poignant moments from his life, blending lyricism with everyday conversation.

His epic poetry, including Divine Comedies (1976), Mirabell: Books of Number (1978), and Scripts for the Pageant (1980), later published as The Changing Light at Sandover (1982), solidified his reputation. This 17,000-line work features conversations with real and fictional figures from the spirit world via a Ouija board. The Inner Room (1988) also won the Bobbitt National Prize for Poetry. Merrill's works include plays, novels, essays, and a memoir, A Different Person (1993).

James Merrill, an American poet celebrated for his skillful and witty lyric and epic poems, often explored themes of personal vision, romantic and domestic life, and autobiographical elements in his poetry.

His earlier works, such as First Poems, demonstrated formal mastery but were noted as somewhat impersonal. Later, collections like Water Street revealed a growing ease and personal vision. Nights and Days, The Fire Screen, and Braving the Elements saw him gain public appreciation as his verse became more autobiographical, focusing on poignant moments. His epic poetry, including The Changing Light at Sandover, further solidified his reputation, presenting conversations with real and fictional persons in the spirit world via a Ouija board, summing up his lifelong concerns.