John Ciardi Biography

John Ciardi, Dramatist

Born as	John Anthony Ciardi
Occup.	Dramatist
From	USA
Spouse	Judith Hostetter
Born	June 24, 1916 Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Died	March 30, 1986 Metuchen, New Jersey, USA
Cause	Heart attack
Aged	69 years

Early Life and Education
John Anthony Ciardi was born on June 24, 1916, in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. He was the kid of Italian immigrants, Nicola Ciardi and Maria Pescione. His early youth was marked by hardship, as his dad worked as a bricklayer, and the household lived in the densely inhabited North End of Boston.

Ciardi participated in public schools in Boston and Medford, where his household relocated search of much better chances. In spite of their monetary struggles, Ciardi's moms and dads extremely valued education and motivated their boy to pursue it. As a young kid, Ciardi developed a love for the composed word and the power of language. This enthusiasm led him to be an exceptional student, which enabled him to make a scholarship to Bates College in Lewiston, Maine.

After a year at Bates, Ciardi moved to Tufts University on another scholarship, where he made a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1938. Throughout this time, he also ended up being the editor of the university's literary publication, the Tufts Review. Ciardi then continued his education at the University of Michigan, where he made a Master of Arts degree in 1939.

Profession
While mentor at Kansas State University, Ciardi's writing profession began to flower. He published his very first collection of poetry, "Homeward to America", in 1940. The collection reflects his thoughts and experiences as a second-generation Italian-American, exploring styles of identity, household, and belonging. This substantial launching established Ciardi as a noteworthy literary existence.

In 1942, Ciardi joined the US Army Air Corps and functioned as a gunner during World War II. After the war, he went back to academic community and taught at the University of Kansas City (now the University of Missouri-Kansas City) and Rutgers University in New Jersey.

John Ciardi's profession took a considerable turn when he signed up with the staff of Saturday Review in 1950 as a poetry editor. In this function, Ciardi promoted modern poets, critiqued brand-new works, and got a credibility as an appreciated and knowledgeable voice in the literary world.

In addition to his work at Saturday Review, Ciardi continued to write poetry and check out brand-new kinds of literary expression. He released numerous effective poetry collections throughout the 1950s and 1960s, consisting of "The Collected Poems of John Ciardi" and "Person to Person". Ciardi likewise wrote extensively for children, creating cherished books such as "You Read to Me, I'll Read to You" and "The Monster Den".

Translation and Legacy
Perhaps Ciardi's most significant contribution to literature is his translation of Dante Alighieri's "The Divine Comedy". Published in 1954, Ciardi's translation acquired widespread praise for its precision, fluency, and accessibility to modern-day readers. It has actually considering that ended up being a basic and commonly used edition of Dante's epic in class and among scholars.

Throughout his profession, Ciardi made various awards and distinctions for his operate in literature, consisting of the American Academy of Arts and Letters Award and the Frost Medal. He also acted as the president of the National Institute of Arts and Letters and held honorary degrees from numerous universities.

Personal Life
John Ciardi was married to the poet and artist Myra Judith Hostetter, with whom he had three children-- John Jr., Benn, and Judith. The couple initially met at the University of Kansas City, where they both taught. They remained married up until Ciardi's death.

John Ciardi died on March 30, 1986, in Edison, New Jersey, at the age of 69. He left a lasting legacy as a poet, translator, and educator. His works continue to be appreciated for their wit, sensitivity, and depth, reminding future generations of the power and beauty of the composed word.

Our collection contains 21 quotes who is written / told by John, under the main topics: Art - Love - Dad - Poetry.

Related authors: Giulio Andreotti (Politician), Dante Alighieri (Poet)

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21 Famous quotes by John Ciardi

"The classroom should be an entrance into the world, not an escape from it"

"It is easy enough to praise men for the courage of their convictions. I wish I could teach the sad young of this mealy generation the courage of their confusions"

"Gentility is what is left over from rich ancestors after the money is gone"

"Modern art is what happens when painters stop looking at girls and persuade themselves that they have a better idea"

"The day will happen whether or not you get up"

"Every game ever invented by mankind, is a way of making things hard for the fun of it!"

"A university is what a college becomes when the faculty loses interest in the students"

"A neighborhood is a residential area that is changing for the worse"

"A good question is never answered. It is not a bolt to be tightened into place but a seed to be planted and to bear more seed toward the hope of greening the landscape of idea"

"Written by a sponge dipped in warm milk and sprinkled with sugar"

"What has any poet to trust more than the feel of the thing? Theory concerns him only until he picks up his pen, and it begins to concern him again as soon as he lays it down"

"Love is the word used to label the sexual excitement of the young, the habituation of the middle-aged, and the mutual dependence of the old"

"Nothing goes further toward a man's liberation than the act of surviving his need for character"

"You don't have to suffer to be a poet; adolescence is enough suffering for anyone"

"Every parent is at some time the father of the unreturned prodigal, with nothing to do but keep his house open to hope"

"Intelligence recognizes what has happened. Genius recognizes what will happen"

"There is nothing wrong with sobriety in moderation"

"The reader deserves an honest opinion. If he doesn't deserve it, give it to him anyhow"

"The Constitution gives every American the inalienable right to make a damn fool of himself"

"Poetry lies its way to the truth"

"A dollar saved is a quarter earned"