Adrienne Rich - Poets, Family and Family
Adrienne Rich's Personal Details
Adrienne Rich was an American poet, essayist and feminist
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | May 16, 1929 |
| Died on | March 27, 2012 |
| Nationality | American |
| Famous | Feminists, Lesbians, Harvard University, Writers, Poets, Non-Fiction Writers, Essayists, Poets |
| City/State | Maryland |
| Spouses | Alfred Haskell Conrad (m.1953-1970) |
| Known as | Adrienne Cecile Rich |
| Childrens | David, Jacob, Paul |
| Universities |
|
| Notable Alumnis |
|
| Birth Place | Baltimore, Maryland, United States |
| Gender | Female |
| Father | Arnold Rice Rich |
| Mother | Helen Elizabeth Jones Rich |
| Sun Sign | Taurus |
| Born in | Baltimore, Maryland, United States |
| Famous as | American poet |
| Died at Age | 82 |
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Adrienne Rich's photo
Who is Adrienne Rich?
Adrienne Rich was an American poet, essayist and feminist. She was born to Jewish-Protestant parents. Her father encouraged her to read and write from a very young age and home tutored her. She spent a great deal of her time in her father’s library which was stocked with works of great writers. She worked hard to fulfil her father’s wishes, and by the time she was twenty-two, she come out with her first collection of poems, ‘A Change of World’. She married Alfred Conrad, an Economics Professor and had three sons. Their marriage became severely strained because of her being a lesbian. They separated and Conrad committed suicide. A large portion of her work portrayed her thoughts about lesbianism and feminist activism. Her poems and essays were well received, and she won a series of awards and recognitions from various quarters. Her collections of poems include ‘The Diamond Cutters’, ‘Snapshots of a Daughter-in-Law’, ‘Twenty-One Love Poems’, ‘A Wild Patience Has Taken Me This Far’, and ‘The Fact of a Doorframe’. Her critically acclaimed essays include: ‘The Art of the Possible: Essays and Conversations’ and ‘Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence’.
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Childhood & Early Life
Adrienne Cecile Rich was born to Arnold Rice Rich, the Chairman of Pathology at The Johns Hopkins Medical School and Helen Elizabeth Jones Rich, a concert pianist and composer.
She was schooled at home and started attending school from fourth grade. She later attended the Roland Park Country School. She earned her college diploma from Radcliffe College, Harvard.
Her poems ‘Sources’ and ‘After Dark’ speak about her relationship with her father and the hard work she put in to fulfil her parents' ambitions.
Career
In 1966, she moved to New York with her husband and children. She became involved in anti-war, civil rights and feminist activism. Her husband took up a teaching position in City College.
8For two years starting 1967, she gave lectures at Swarthmore College. She taught in the Writing Division of Columbia University School of the Arts, as an assistant professor.
As a protest against the Vietnam-American War in 1968, she signed the ‘Writers and Editors War Tax Protest’, pledging not to pay taxes. Her writings reflected her radical views on politics.
She began teaching in the SEEK program in City College of New York in 1968. During this period, she wrote poems like ‘Necessities of Life’, ‘Leaflets’ and ‘The Will to Change’.
In 1979, Adrienne Rich compiled and republished some of her essays in ‘On Lies, Secrets and Silence: Selected Prose’, wherein she asserted the need for sexual equality.
She was conferred an honorary doctorate from Smith College in 1979. She then shifted with her partner, Michelle Cliff, to Montague, MA and then relocated to Santa Cruz, where Rich pursued her teaching and writing career.
In the 1980s, she lectured at Scripps College, San Jose State University, Stanford University and Cornell University and wrote ‘Your Native Land, Your Life’, ‘Blood, Bread, and Poetry’, and ‘Time’s Power: Poems 1985–1988’.8In 1990, her work resulted in the founding of ‘Bridges: A Journal for Jewish Feminists and Our Friends’. She was the journal’s editor and explored the cause of Jewish women's rights.
Her works through the 1990s were a mix of poetry and essays: ‘Midnight Salvage: Poems 1995–1998’, ‘The Art of the Possible: Essays and Conversations’, and ‘Fox: Poems 1998–2000’.
Major Works
In 1951, Adrienne Rich’s first collection of poetry, ‘A Change of World’ was published. Renowned poet W.H. Auden selected it for the Yale Series of Younger Poets Award and also wrote its introduction.
In 1955, her second collection of poems, ‘The Diamond Cutters’ was published to critical acclaim. Her third collection, ‘Snapshots of a Daughter-in-Law’, written after her marriage, expressed the struggle and turmoil she experienced as a wife and mother.
Her poems ‘Twenty-One Love Poems’, ‘A Wild Patience Has Taken Me This Far’, and ‘The Fact of a Doorframe’ expressed her views on lesbianism. She also wrote the critically appreciated essay, ‘Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence’.
Awards & Achievements
‘Diving into the Wreck’ won Rich the 1974 National Book Award for Poetry.
She was awarded the ‘Ruth Paul Lilly Poetry Prize’, the ‘Elmer Holmes Bobst Award in Arts and Letters’ from NYU, and the ‘National Poetry Association Award for Distinguished Service’ to the Art of Poetry.
Her poems, ‘An Atlas of the Difficult World’ published in 1991 won the ‘Los Angeles Times Book Award in Poetry’, the ‘Lenore Marshall/Nation Award’, the ‘Poet's Prize’ and ‘Commonwealth Award in Literature’.
Personal Life & Legacy
In 1953, Adrienne Rich married Alfred Haskell Conrad, an Economics Professor at Harvard University. They settled in Cambridge, Massachusetts. They had three sons – David, Paul and Jacob.
By 1970, her marriage was considerably strained. Conrad began to believe that she had lost her mind. They separated in mid-1970. In October, Conrad drove into the woods and shot himself.
In 1976, Rich entered into a lifelong lesbian relationship with Jamaican-born novelist and editor, Michelle Cliff. Her relationship inspired her controversial book, ‘Of Woman Born: Motherhood as Experience and Institution’.
Adrienne Rich passed away at her Santa Cruz, California home. She is survived by her sons, grandchildren and partner, Michelle Cliff.
Trivia
This celebrated writer refused to accept the National Medal of Arts in protest to the House of Representatives’ vote to end the National Endowment for the Arts in 1997.
This illustrious poet turned down an invitation from President Bush in 2003 for a poetry event at the White House in protest to the Iraq war.
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Adrienne Rich's awards
| Year | Name | Award |
|---|---|---|
Other | ||
| 1974 | National Book Award for Poetry (a split award) for Diving into the Wreck | |
| 1989 | National Poetry Association Award for Distinguished Service to the Art of Poetry | |
| 1990 | William Whitehead Award for Lifetime Achievement (for gay or lesbian writing) | |
| 1991 | Common Wealth Award of Distinguished Service | |
| 1992 | Lenore Marshall Poetry Prize | |
| 1992 | Poets' Prize for Atlas of the Difficult World | |
| 1996 | Wallace Stevens Award | |
| 1999 | Lifetime Achievement Award from the Lannan Foundation | |
| 2010 | Lifetime Recognition Award from the Griffin Poetry Prize | |
| 0 | 1950 - Yale Younger Poets Award for A Change of World | |
| 0 | 1960 - National Institute of Arts and Letters Award | |
| 0 | 1970 - Shelley Memorial Award | |
Adrienne Rich biography timelines
- // 16th May 1929Adrienne Cecile Rich was born to Arnold Rice Rich, the Chairman of Pathology at The Johns Hopkins Medical School and Helen Elizabeth Jones Rich, a concert pianist and composer.
- // 1951In 1951, Adrienne Rich’s first collection of poetry, ‘A Change of World’ was published. Renowned poet W.H. Auden selected it for the Yale Series of Younger Poets Award and also wrote its introduction.
- // 1953In 1953, Adrienne Rich married Alfred Haskell Conrad, an Economics Professor at Harvard University. They settled in Cambridge, Massachusetts. They had three sons – David, Paul and Jacob.
- // 1955In 1955, her second collection of poems, ‘The Diamond Cutters’ was published to critical acclaim. Her third collection, ‘Snapshots of a Daughter-in-Law’, written after her marriage, expressed the struggle and turmoil she experienced as a wife and mother.
- // 1966In 1966, she moved to New York with her husband and children. She became involved in anti-war, civil rights and feminist activism. Her husband took up a teaching position in City College.
- // 19678For two years starting 1967, she gave lectures at Swarthmore College. She taught in the Writing Division of Columbia University School of the Arts, as an assistant professor.
- // 1968As a protest against the Vietnam-American War in 1968, she signed the ‘Writers and Editors War Tax Protest’, pledging not to pay taxes. Her writings reflected her radical views on politics.
- // 1968She began teaching in the SEEK program in City College of New York in 1968. During this period, she wrote poems like ‘Necessities of Life’, ‘Leaflets’ and ‘The Will to Change’.
- // 1970By 1970, her marriage was considerably strained. Conrad began to believe that she had lost her mind. They separated in mid-1970. In October, Conrad drove into the woods and shot himself.
- // 1974‘Diving into the Wreck’ won Rich the 1974 National Book Award for Poetry.
- // 1976In 1976, Rich entered into a lifelong lesbian relationship with Jamaican-born novelist and editor, Michelle Cliff. Her relationship inspired her controversial book, ‘Of Woman Born: Motherhood as Experience and Institution’.
- // 1979She was conferred an honorary doctorate from Smith College in 1979. She then shifted with her partner, Michelle Cliff, to Montague, MA and then relocated to Santa Cruz, where Rich pursued her teaching and writing career.
- // 1979In 1979, Adrienne Rich compiled and republished some of her essays in ‘On Lies, Secrets and Silence: Selected Prose’, wherein she asserted the need for sexual equality.
- // 1991Her poems, ‘An Atlas of the Difficult World’ published in 1991 won the ‘Los Angeles Times Book Award in Poetry’, the ‘Lenore Marshall/Nation Award’, the ‘Poet's Prize’ and ‘Commonwealth Award in Literature’.
- // 2003This illustrious poet turned down an invitation from President Bush in 2003 for a poetry event at the White House in protest to the Iraq war.
- // 27th Mar 2012Adrienne Rich passed away at her Santa Cruz, California home. She is survived by her sons, grandchildren and partner, Michelle Cliff.
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Adrienne Rich's FAQ
What is Adrienne Rich birthday?
Adrienne Rich was born at 1929-05-16
When was Adrienne Rich died?
Adrienne Rich was died at 2012-03-27
Where was Adrienne Rich died?
Adrienne Rich was died in Santa Cruz, California
Which age was Adrienne Rich died?
Adrienne Rich was died at age 82
Where is Adrienne Rich's birth place?
Adrienne Rich was born in Baltimore, Maryland, United States
What is Adrienne Rich nationalities?
Adrienne Rich's nationalities is American
Who is Adrienne Rich spouses?
Adrienne Rich's spouses is Alfred Haskell Conrad (m.1953-1970)
Who is Adrienne Rich childrens?
Adrienne Rich's childrens is David, Jacob, Paul
What was Adrienne Rich universities?
Adrienne Rich studied at Harvard University, Harvard University, Radcliffe College
What was Adrienne Rich notable alumnis?
Adrienne Rich's notable alumnis is Harvard University
Who is Adrienne Rich's father?
Adrienne Rich's father is Arnold Rice Rich
Who is Adrienne Rich's mother?
Adrienne Rich's mother is Helen Elizabeth Jones Rich
What is Adrienne Rich's sun sign?
Adrienne Rich is Taurus
How famous is Adrienne Rich?
Adrienne Rich is famouse as American poet