Paul Engle
Encyclopedia
Paul Engle noted American poet
, editor, teacher, literary critic, novelist, and playwright. He is perhaps best remembered as the long-time director of the Iowa Writers' Workshop
and as founder of the International Writing Program
(IWP), both at the University of Iowa
.
). Nonetheless, perhaps no one helped to better establish the reputation of the venerable writing program than Engle. During his tenure as director (1941-1965), he was responsible for luring some of the finest writers of the day to Iowa City. Robert Lowell
, John Berryman
, Robie Macauley
, Kurt Vonnegut
and many other prominent novelists and poets served as faculty under Engle. Additionally, Engle increased enrollment and oversaw numerous students of future fame and influence, including Flannery O'Connor
, Philip Levine
, Sunil Gangopadhyay
, Donald Justice
, Raymond Carver
and Robert Bly
. During his tenure, Engle raised millions of dollars in support of the program whose shape and direction proved the model for the hundreds of writing programs that have followed.
In 1967, following his departure as director of the workshop, Engle and future-second-wife Nieh Hualing
co-founded The University of Iowa's International Writing Program
, which provided for dozens of published authors from around the world to visit Iowa City each year to write and collaborate. Engle left the Writer's Workshop permanently in 1969 to devote himself full-time to the international program. For his work with the IWP, Engle was nominated (along with Hualing Engle) for a 1976 Nobel Peace Prize
.
Born Paul Hamilton Engle in Cedar Rapids, Iowa
, to Thomas Allen, a livery stable owner, and Evelyn (Reinheiner) Engle, Engle grew up in the Wellington Heights section of Cedar Rapids. He graduated from Washington High School (Cedar Rapids, Iowa)
, and later attended Coe College
, The University of Iowa, Columbia University
, and Oxford University (where he studied as a Rhodes Scholar). As a student at Iowa, Engle was one of the earliest recipients of an advanced degree awarded for creative work: his first collection Worn Earth, which went on to win the Yale Series of Younger Poets. His second book, American Song (1934), was given a rave front-page review in the New York Times Book Review and was even, briefly, a bestseller. From 1954-59, Engle served as series editor for the O. Henry Prize.
At the time of his death (in Chicago
's O'Hare Airport on his way to accept an award in Poland), Engle was the author of more than a dozen collections of poetry, a novel, a memoir, an opera libretto (for Philip Bezanson
), and even a children's book. In addition, Engle wrote numerous articles and reviews for many of the largest periodicals of his day.
His papers are held at the University of Iowa
, and Coe College
.
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
, editor, teacher, literary critic, novelist, and playwright. He is perhaps best remembered as the long-time director of the Iowa Writers' Workshop
Iowa Writers' Workshop
The Program in Creative Writing, more commonly known as the Iowa Writers' Workshop, at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa, is a highly regarded graduate-level creative writing program in the United States...
and as founder of the International Writing Program
International Writing Program
The International Writing Program is a writing residency for international artists in Iowa City, Iowa. Since its inception in 1967, the IWP has hosted over 1,100 emerging and established poets, novelists, dramatists, essayists, and journalists from more than 120 countries...
(IWP), both at the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
.
Life
Engle is often mistakenly credited with having founded the Iowa Writers' Workshop (an honor that more appropriately belongs to his predecessor, Wilbur SchrammWilbur Schramm
Wilbur Lang Schramm is sometimes called the "father of communication studies," and had a great influence on the development of communication research in the United States, and the establishing of departments of communication studies in US universities.Schramm was born in Marietta, Ohio...
). Nonetheless, perhaps no one helped to better establish the reputation of the venerable writing program than Engle. During his tenure as director (1941-1965), he was responsible for luring some of the finest writers of the day to Iowa City. Robert Lowell
Robert Lowell
Robert Traill Spence Lowell IV was an American poet, considered the founder of the confessional poetry movement. He was appointed the sixth Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress where he served from 1947 until 1948...
, John Berryman
John Berryman
John Allyn Berryman was an American poet and scholar, born in McAlester, Oklahoma. He was a major figure in American poetry in the second half of the 20th century and was considered a key figure in the Confessional school of poetry...
, Robie Macauley
Robie Macauley
Robie Mayhew Macauley was an editor, novelist and critic whose literary career spanned over 50 years.-Early life:...
, Kurt Vonnegut
Kurt Vonnegut
Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. was a 20th century American writer. His works such as Cat's Cradle , Slaughterhouse-Five and Breakfast of Champions blend satire, gallows humor and science fiction. He was known for his humanist beliefs and was honorary president of the American Humanist Association.-Early...
and many other prominent novelists and poets served as faculty under Engle. Additionally, Engle increased enrollment and oversaw numerous students of future fame and influence, including Flannery O'Connor
Flannery O'Connor
Mary Flannery O'Connor was an American novelist, short-story writer and essayist. An important voice in American literature, O'Connor wrote two novels and 32 short stories, as well as a number of reviews and commentaries...
, Philip Levine
Philip Levine (poet)
Philip Levine is a Pulitzer Prize-winning American poet best known for his poems about working-class Detroit. He taught for over thirty years at the English Department of California State University, Fresno and held teaching positions at other universities as well...
, Sunil Gangopadhyay
Sunil Gangopadhyay
Sunil Gangopadhyay , is a celebrated Indian poet and novelist.-Early life:...
, Donald Justice
Donald Justice
Donald Justice was an American poet and teacher of writing. In summing up Justice's career, David Orr has written, "In most ways, Justice was no different from any number of solid, quiet older writers devoted to traditional short poems. But he was different in one important sense: sometimes his...
, Raymond Carver
Raymond Carver
Raymond Clevie Carver, Jr. was an American short story writer and poet. Carver is considered a major American writer of the late 20th century and also a major force in the revitalization of the short story in the 1980s....
and Robert Bly
Robert Bly
Robert Bly is an American poet, author, activist and leader of the Mythopoetic Men's Movement.-Life:Bly was born in Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota, to Jacob and Alice Bly, who were of Norwegian ancestry. Following graduation from high school in 1944, he enlisted in the United States Navy, serving...
. During his tenure, Engle raised millions of dollars in support of the program whose shape and direction proved the model for the hundreds of writing programs that have followed.
In 1967, following his departure as director of the workshop, Engle and future-second-wife Nieh Hualing
Hualing Nieh Engle
Hualing Nieh Engle is a Chinese novelist, fiction writer, and poet. She is a professor emerita at the University of Iowa.- Early life and education :...
co-founded The University of Iowa's International Writing Program
International Writing Program
The International Writing Program is a writing residency for international artists in Iowa City, Iowa. Since its inception in 1967, the IWP has hosted over 1,100 emerging and established poets, novelists, dramatists, essayists, and journalists from more than 120 countries...
, which provided for dozens of published authors from around the world to visit Iowa City each year to write and collaborate. Engle left the Writer's Workshop permanently in 1969 to devote himself full-time to the international program. For his work with the IWP, Engle was nominated (along with Hualing Engle) for a 1976 Nobel Peace Prize
Nobel Peace Prize
The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the five Nobel Prizes bequeathed by the Swedish industrialist and inventor Alfred Nobel.-Background:According to Nobel's will, the Peace Prize shall be awarded to the person who...
.
Born Paul Hamilton Engle in Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Cedar Rapids is the second largest city in Iowa and is the county seat of Linn County. The city lies on both banks of the Cedar River, north of Iowa City and east of Des Moines, the state's capital and largest city...
, to Thomas Allen, a livery stable owner, and Evelyn (Reinheiner) Engle, Engle grew up in the Wellington Heights section of Cedar Rapids. He graduated from Washington High School (Cedar Rapids, Iowa)
Washington High School (Cedar Rapids, Iowa)
Washington High School is a public high school in Cedar Rapids, Iowa-The First Washington High School:Construction began on the first Washington in 1855 on the corner of Fourth Avenue and Fifth Street S.E. It was a three-story brick building with a white belfry, and it was the largest public school...
, and later attended Coe College
Coe College
Coe College is a private, four-year, liberal arts college in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Founded in 1851, the institution is historically affiliated with the Presbyterian Church . Its current president is James R. Phifer. It is one of the smaller universities to have a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa...
, The University of Iowa, Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, and Oxford University (where he studied as a Rhodes Scholar). As a student at Iowa, Engle was one of the earliest recipients of an advanced degree awarded for creative work: his first collection Worn Earth, which went on to win the Yale Series of Younger Poets. His second book, American Song (1934), was given a rave front-page review in the New York Times Book Review and was even, briefly, a bestseller. From 1954-59, Engle served as series editor for the O. Henry Prize.
At the time of his death (in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
's O'Hare Airport on his way to accept an award in Poland), Engle was the author of more than a dozen collections of poetry, a novel, a memoir, an opera libretto (for Philip Bezanson
Philip Bezanson
Philip Thomas Bezanson was an American composer and educator.-Life:Born in Athol, Massachusetts, he graduated from Yale University School of music in 1940 and after war services enrolled in the graduate program of composition at the State University of Iowa were he joined its faculty eight years...
), and even a children's book. In addition, Engle wrote numerous articles and reviews for many of the largest periodicals of his day.
His papers are held at the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
, and Coe College
Coe College
Coe College is a private, four-year, liberal arts college in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Founded in 1851, the institution is historically affiliated with the Presbyterian Church . Its current president is James R. Phifer. It is one of the smaller universities to have a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa...
.
Poetry
- Worn Earth, Yale University Press, 1932.
- American Song, Doubleday, 1934, reprinted, AMS Press, 1979.
- Break the Heart's Anger, Doubleday, 1936.
- Corn, Doubleday, 1939.
- New Englanders, Prairie Press (Muscatine, IA), 1940.
- West of Midnight, Random House, 1941.
- American Child: A Sonnet Sequence, Random House, 1945, revised and enlarged edition published as American Child: Sonnets for My Daughter, Dial, 1956.
- The Word of Love, Random House, 1951.
- Book and Child: Three Sonnets, Cummington Press (Iowa City, IA), 1956.
- Poems in Praise, Random House, 1959.
- Christmas Poems, privately printed, 1962.
- A Woman Unashamed and Other Poems, Random House, 1965.
- Embrace: Selected Love Poems, Random House, 1969.
- 'Images of China: Poems Written in China, April-June, 1980, preface by Hualing Nieh, New World Press (Beijing), 1981.
Other
- Always the Land (novel), Random House, 1941.
- A Prairie Christmas (nonfiction), Longmans, Green, 1960.
- Golden Child (novel), Dutton, 1962.
- Who's Afraid?, Crowell-Collier, 1962.
- An Old-Fashioned Christma's, Dial, 1964.
- Women in the American Revolution, Follett, 1976.
Editor
- 1954-59 Prize Stories: The O. Henry Awards, six volumes, Doubleday.
- (With Warren Carrier) Reading Modern Poetry, Scott Foresman, 1955, revised edition, 1968.
- Homage to Baudelaire, on the Centennial of "Les Fleurs du Mal," Cummington Press, 1957.
- (With Henri Coulette) Midland: Twenty-Five Years of Fiction and Poetry from the Writing Workshops of the State University of Iowa, Random House, 1961.
- (With Joseph Langland) Poet's Choice, Dial Press, 1962.
- On Creative Writing, Dutton, 1964.
- Midland II, Random House, 1970.
- (And translator with wife, Hualing Nieh) Poems of Mao Tse-Tung, Dell, 1972.
- (With Rowena Torrevillas and Hualing Nieh Engle) The World Comes to Iowa: Iowa International Anthology, Iowa State University (Ames, IA), 1987.
External links
- Remembering Paul Engle in Iowa City by Robert Bly
- Famous Iowans: Paul Engle (The Des Moines Register)
- The Papers of Paul Engle at The University of Iowa (includes short biography)
- A Community of Writers: Paul Engle and the Iowa Writers' Workshop By Robert Dana, ed.
- Paul Engle Papers: George T. Henry College Archives, Coe College Cedar Rapids Iowa
- Extracts from the works of Paul and Nieh Hualing Engle