Charles Henri Ford
Charles Henri Ford was an influential American poet, writer, and publisher, born in 1913 in Brookhaven, Mississippi. He began his literary career as a teenager with poetry published in prestigious outlets like The New Yorker. In 1929, he co-founded *Blues: A Magazine of New Rhythms*, attracting notable contributors such as E. E. Cummings and Gertrude Stein, which solidified his role in the avant-garde literary movement. Ford moved to Paris, immersing himself in the expatriate community, where he fostered relationships with prominent figures like Djuna Barnes and painter Pavel Tchelitchew, with whom he shared a long-term partnership. His significant literary works include *The Young and Evil*, a landmark in gay literature, and *A Pamphlet of Sonnets*.
In addition to his poetry, Ford contributed to the art world through photography and painting, and he played a crucial role in introducing European surrealism to American audiences via his magazine *View*. He later gained recognition within the Pop art movement and published several volumes of poetry throughout the 1970s and beyond, influenced by Eastern philosophy. Ford's legacy is marked by his pivotal role in promoting avant-garde literature and gay culture in the United States, culminating in his death in Manhattan in 2002.
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Charles Henri Ford
Poet
- Born: February 10, 1913
- Birthplace: Brookhaven, Mississippi
- Died: September 27, 2002
- Place of death: Manhattan, New York
Biography
Charles Henri Ford was born in Brookhaven, Mississippi, in 1913. While still an adolescent, Ford had poems published in The New Yorker and in other literary magazines. In 1929, Ford left school and started Blues: A Magazine of New Rhythms with Parker Tyler and Kathleen Tankersley. The magazine attracted many prestigious contributors including E. E. Cummings, Gertrude Stein, Eskine Caldwell, and Ezra Pound, among many others. Ford thus established himself early on as a leader of the literary avant-garde
Ford engaged in the bohemian life of Greenwich Village in 1930 before leaving for Paris. He was welcomed by the expatriate community in Paris, establishing close ties with Stein, Mina Loy, and Paul Bowles. He was particularly close to the writer Djuna Barnes, with whom he shared a flat. He also was instrumental in the production of her novel Nightwood, typing the manuscript for her. She introduced Ford to the painter Pavel Tchelitchew, with whom Ford established a permanent relationship. The two men were partners from 1934 to 1957, ending only with Tchelitchew’s death. In 1933, Ford published The Young and Evil in Paris; the book was banned in England and the United States. The book is considered a landmark in gay literature.
Ford returned to New York in 1934. In 1936, he published his first volume of poetry, A Pamphlet of Sonnets in 1936, followed by The Garden of Disorder, and Other Poems (1938) which included an introduction by William Carlos Williams. In 1940, he published ABC’s. Also in 1940, Ford began another important magazine, View. This magazine was largely responsible for introducing surrealist European artists to the United States. Literary contributors included Ford himself, as well E. E. Cummings, Wallace Stevens, Randall Jarrell, and William Carlos Williams. During the 1940’s, Ford also published four books of poetry.
Ford next turned to photography, painting, and drawing, exhibiting his work throughout the 1950’s in Europe. The catalog forward of his Paris exhibit was written by noted artist Jean Cocteau. He resumed his poetry after returning to the United States in 1962. At the same time, he met Andy Warhol and became associated with the Pop movement. His 1965 Poem Posters exhibition was largely responsible for the 1960’s color poster movement. These poems were published as Spare Parts (1966) and Silver Flower Coo (1968).
During the 1970’s, Ford published several more volumes of poems, and also made several movies. His later poetry, published in the 1980’s, was influenced by his growing interest in Eastern philosophy. He maintained a house in Katmandu as well as an apartment in New York. Ford’s last book, Water from a Bucket: A Dairy 1948-1957, was published in 2001. On September 27, 2002, Ford died in Manhattan.
Ford’s achievements as a writer and as a publisher cannot be overestimated. Largely regarded as American’s first surrealist poet, he was responsible for promoting avant-garde literature in the United States. His magazines offered a forum for writers and artists and his poetry was highly regarded. Finally, he contributed greatly to the growth of gay culture.