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William Alfred

January 01, 1970

William Alfred (August 16, 1922 – May 20, 1999) was an American playwright, poet, and professor of English literature at Harvard University.[1]

Biography edit

Alfred was born into an Irish family in Brooklyn, New York.[2] His father was a bricklayer and his mother was a telephone operator.[3] He graduated from St. Francis Preparatory School in 1940.[2]

Alfred was drafted in 1943, two years into his undergraduate studies at Brooklyn College.[2] He served in the Army tank corps and quartermaster's corps[3] in World War II for four years.[4] While in the army, he was taught Bulgarian at a language school and then stationed in the South Pacific, where he wrote poems for American Poet.[2] Alfred completed his B.A. from Brooklyn College in 1948 with the help of the G.I. Bill.[4][2]

He went on to Harvard, where he studied the literature of Medieval England, receiving his A.M. and Ph.D. in English in 1949 and 1954 respectively.[5][4] While at Harvard, Alfred took a creative writing course under Archibald MacLeish. There he wrote his play, Agamemnon.[6]

He began teaching at Harvard the same year he received his doctorate and was appointed full professor in 1963.[4] In 1980, he was named Abbott Lawrence Lowell Professor of the Humanities.[4]

He retired in 1991.[3]

Personal life edit

Alfred was a lifelong Catholic and attended mass at Saint Paul's Church in Cambridge.[4]

His great grandmother, Anna Maria Egan, immigrated to the United States.[6]

Alfred's play Hogan's Goat, a verse drama, helped launch Faye Dunaway's career in the 60's.[7] They maintained a close relationship and remained lifelong friends.[7]

Alfred was close friends with fellow poets Elizabeth Bishop[8] and Robert Lowell.[1]

Plays edit

Other works edit

  • The Annunciation Rosary (poetry)
  • Author of a translation of Beowulf[3]

Awards and recognition edit

  • 1993 Harvard Medal[5]
  • 1988 Signet Society Medal for Lifetime Achievement[4]
  • 1957 Phi Beta Kappa Poet of Harvard University[4]
  • 1954 Amy Lowell Traveling Poetry Scholar[9]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "William Alfred | Manuscript Collections | City University of New York (CUNY)". academicworks.cuny.edu. Retrieved 2019-12-05.
  2. ^ a b c d e Mcdonald, Gregory (2011-01-04). Souvenirs of a Blown World: Sketches for the Sixties, Writings about America, 1966-1973. Seven Stories Press. ISBN 978-1-58322-993-4.
  3. ^ a b c d e . 6 July 2008. Archived from the original on 6 July 2008. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h "William Alfred". Harvard Gazette. 2003-04-03. Retrieved 2019-12-05.
  5. ^ a b “Past Recipients of the Harvard Medal” Harvard Alumni Association, 2019. Retrieved from https://alumni.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/page/files/Harvard%20Medal_Past%20Recipient%20List.pdf
  6. ^ a b LIFE. Time Inc. 1966-04-22.
  7. ^ a b "William Alfred | Samuel French". www.samuelfrench.com. Retrieved 2019-12-05.
  8. ^ Millier, Brett C. (1992-03-15). Elizabeth Bishop: Life and the Memory of It. University of California Press. p. 432. ISBN 978-0-520-91719-4. william alfred harvard.
  9. ^ "Amy Lowell Poetry Traveling Scholarship- List of Past Recipients". www.amylowell.org. Retrieved 2019-12-05.

External links edit

  • Guide to William Alfred papers concerning adaptations of Agamemnon and The Scarlet Letter at Houghton Library, Harvard University
  • {https://sites.google.com/view/the-friends-of-william-alfred/home The New Friends of William Alfred, A collection of photos, videos, memoirs, and external links devoted to the life and works of William Alfred.

January 01, 1970
william, alfred, august, 1922, 1999, american, playwright, poet, professor, english, literature, harvard, university, contents, biography, personal, life, plays, other, works, awards, recognition, references, external, linksbiography, editalfred, born, into, i. William Alfred August 16 1922 May 20 1999 was an American playwright poet and professor of English literature at Harvard University 1 Contents 1 Biography 2 Personal life 3 Plays 4 Other works 5 Awards and recognition 6 References 7 External linksBiography editAlfred was born into an Irish family in Brooklyn New York 2 His father was a bricklayer and his mother was a telephone operator 3 He graduated from St Francis Preparatory School in 1940 2 Alfred was drafted in 1943 two years into his undergraduate studies at Brooklyn College 2 He served in the Army tank corps and quartermaster s corps 3 in World War II for four years 4 While in the army he was taught Bulgarian at a language school and then stationed in the South Pacific where he wrote poems for American Poet 2 Alfred completed his B A from Brooklyn College in 1948 with the help of the G I Bill 4 2 He went on to Harvard where he studied the literature of Medieval England receiving his A M and Ph D in English in 1949 and 1954 respectively 5 4 While at Harvard Alfred took a creative writing course under Archibald MacLeish There he wrote his play Agamemnon 6 He began teaching at Harvard the same year he received his doctorate and was appointed full professor in 1963 4 In 1980 he was named Abbott Lawrence Lowell Professor of the Humanities 4 He retired in 1991 3 Personal life editAlfred was a lifelong Catholic and attended mass at Saint Paul s Church in Cambridge 4 His great grandmother Anna Maria Egan immigrated to the United States 6 Alfred s play Hogan s Goat a verse drama helped launch Faye Dunaway s career in the 60 s 7 They maintained a close relationship and remained lifelong friends 7 Alfred was close friends with fellow poets Elizabeth Bishop 8 and Robert Lowell 1 Plays editAgamemnon New York Knopf 1954 Hogan s Goat a Drama in Verse New York Farrar Straus amp Giroux 1966 Cry for Us All 3 musical adaptation of Hogan s Goat The Curse of an Aching Heart New York Samuel French New York 1983 Other works editThe Annunciation Rosary poetry Author of a translation of Beowulf 3 Awards and recognition edit1993 Harvard Medal 5 1988 Signet Society Medal for Lifetime Achievement 4 1957 Phi Beta Kappa Poet of Harvard University 4 1954 Amy Lowell Traveling Poetry Scholar 9 References edit a b William Alfred Manuscript Collections City University of New York CUNY academicworks cuny edu Retrieved 2019 12 05 a b c d e Mcdonald Gregory 2011 01 04 Souvenirs of a Blown World Sketches for the Sixties Writings about America 1966 1973 Seven Stories Press ISBN 978 1 58322 993 4 a b c d e The Professor William Alfred Dies at Age 76 6 July 2008 Archived from the original on 6 July 2008 Retrieved 4 June 2018 a b c d e f g h William Alfred Harvard Gazette 2003 04 03 Retrieved 2019 12 05 a b Past Recipients of the Harvard Medal Harvard Alumni Association 2019 Retrieved from https alumni harvard edu sites default files page files Harvard 20Medal Past 20Recipient 20List pdf a b LIFE Time Inc 1966 04 22 a b William Alfred Samuel French www samuelfrench com Retrieved 2019 12 05 Millier Brett C 1992 03 15 Elizabeth Bishop Life and the Memory of It University of California Press p 432 ISBN 978 0 520 91719 4 william alfred harvard Amy Lowell Poetry Traveling Scholarship List of Past Recipients www amylowell org Retrieved 2019 12 05 External links editThe William Alfred Collection at Brooklyn College Special Collections Guide to William Alfred papers concerning adaptations of Agamemnon and The Scarlet Letter at Houghton Library Harvard University https sites google com view the friends of william alfred home The New Friends of William Alfred A collection of photos videos memoirs and external links devoted to the life and works of William Alfred Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William Alfred amp oldid 1211482636, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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