Bliss Carman
Bliss Carman was a prominent Canadian poet, celebrated for his contributions to literature and regarded as one of Canada's finest poets. Born into a family with American Loyalist roots, he was influenced by a rich lineage that included connections to notable figures like Ralph Waldo Emerson. Carman's educational journey took him from schools in New Brunswick to prestigious institutions like Oxford and Harvard, where he studied subjects including philosophy and mathematics. His literary career began in earnest with the publication of his first poem in 1884, and he gained recognition for works such as "Low Tide on Grande Pre" and "Songs from Vagabondia," which he co-authored with Richard Hovey. Throughout his life, Carman was involved in various editorial roles for notable publications and was influenced by prominent philosophers. His legacy includes the editing of "The Oxford Book of American Verse" and numerous accolades, such as the Lorne Pierce Medal from the Royal Society of Canada. Carman's impact on Canadian poetry and literature continues to be acknowledged and celebrated.
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Bliss Carman
Poet
- Born: April 15, 1861
- Birthplace: Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada
- Died: June 8, 1921
- Place of death: New Canaan, Connecticut
Biography
Born into a Canadian family descended from American Loyalists, Bliss Carman was the son of William Carman and Sophia Mary Bliss. His mother’s lineage traced back to Daniel Bliss of Massachusetts, the great-grandfather of Ralph Waldo Emerson. Bliss Carman and his cousin, Charles G.D. Roberts, who would later edit the publication in which Carman’s first poem appeared, together attended Collegiate Grammar School in Fredericton, New Brunswick. The young poet graduated in 1881 and enrolled briefly at Oxford University, joining friends from New Brunswick at Edinburgh University after only three days at Oxford. The college student studied physics, mathematics, and philosophy. He returned to teach at Collegiate Grammar School in Fredericton in 1883, during which time he also studied law. His first published poem, “Ma belle canadienne,” appeared in 1884.
Bliss Carman developed a friendship with Richard Hovey when he enrolled at Harvard University in 1886. It was there that he was influenced by philosophers Josiah Royce and George Santayana and by the work of Ralph Waldo Emerson. He published a poem in Atlantic Monthly in 1886. After leaving Harvard in 1888, Carman served as an editor for such publications as The Atlantic, Current Literature,The Independent, and Literary World, working in both New York and Boston.
The poet’s 1894Low Tide on Grande Pre: A Book of Lyrics garnered international acclaim, and with Richard Hovey, Bliss Carman published Songs from Vagabondia in multiple volumes between 1894 and 1901. Later collaborations came from his connection with Mary Perry King, wife of Dr. Morris Lee King, whose philosophy impacted Bliss Carman; the two worked together on The Making of Personality, among other works. The poet moved to be near these close friends to New Canaan, Connecticut, in 1908. Among Carman’s best-known works is The Oxford Book of American Verse, which he edited in 1927.
Widely regarded as one of Canada’s finest poets and often referred to as the nation’s “Poet Laureate,” Bliss Carman was presented with the Lorne Pierce Medal of the Royal Society of Canada in 1928, after being named Canada’s major poet by the Canadian Authors’ Association in 1921. The University of New Brunswick awarded the poet an LL.D. in 1906, and the Poetry Society of America honored him posthumously.