Wystan Auden

W.H. Auden was born in York, England, in 1907. He initially studied natural history and then English literature at the University of Oxford. One of the most prolific writers of the 20th century, he published his first book titled "Poems" in 1930, which immediately brought him success. In 1939, he moved to the United States, a decision that sparked much controversy in Great Britain. He spent the rest of his life in America—becoming a U.S. citizen in 1946—and was active as a poet, critic, and editor. He taught poetry at various universities but spent his summers in Europe. Music played a significant role in his life: in collaboration with Kallman, he wrote and translated librettos for operas. He wrote the librettos for five stage works, most notably his friend Benjamin Britten's operetta "Paul Bunyan" and the major opera by Igor Stravinsky "The Rake's Progress" (in collaboration with Chester Kallman). Among his other poetic compositions are: "The Shield of Achilles," "The Sea and the Mirror," "In Memory of W.B. Yeats," "Atlantis," "September 1, 1939," and "Homage to Clio." From 1956 to 1960, he served as the Professor of Poetry at Oxford. He passed away in Vienna on September 23, 1973.