John Hewitt
John Harold Hewitt was a notable poet and cultural figure born in October 1907 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Raised in a Methodist family, he pursued his education at Methodist College and later Queen's University, where he earned both a B.A. and an M.A. Hewitt's career spanned various roles, including working at the Belfast Museum and Art Gallery and serving as the director of the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum in Coventry, England. His poetry, beginning with the collection "No Rebel Word" in 1948, delved into themes of Northern Irish identity, social justice, and a sense of alienation, showcasing a unique urban perspective.
Hewitt's literary contributions were marked by a dedication to regionalism, considering the shared landscape of Northern Ireland as a potential common ground amid its societal divides. After retiring from the art world, he focused on writing, producing several acclaimed volumes, including "The Rain Dance," which was notably personal, and "Kites in Spring: A Belfast Boyhood," an autobiographical work. For his artistic achievements, he received honorary doctorates and the Gregory Medal from the Irish Academy of Letters. Influential to later poets like Seamus Heaney, Hewitt's exploration of Irish identity and his craftsmanship in poetry ensure his lasting impact on the literary landscape.
On this Page
Subject Terms
John Hewitt
Poet
- Born: October 28, 1907
- Birthplace: Belfast, Northern Ireland
- Died: June 27, 1987
Biography
John Harold Hewitt was born in October of 1907 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. His father, Robert Telford Hewitt, was a headmaster, and his mother, Elinor Robinson Hewitt, was a teacher. His family was Methodist. In 1924, he attended Methodist College in Belfast. From Queen’s University in Belfast, he received his B.A. in 1930 and his M.A. in 1951. He married Roberta Black in 1934.
Hewitt worked at the Belfast Museum and Art Gallery from 1930 until 1957. He then served as the director of the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum in Coventry, England from 1957 to 1972, when he returned to Belfast. From 1976 to 1979, he held the position of writer-in-residence at Queen’s University. He died June 27, 1987.
Hewitt’s first major collection of poetry, No Rebel Word, published in 1948, explored the complexities of Northern Irish identity. His poetry often expressed a sense of alienation; unlike most of his peers, he was an urban poet who sought the countryside for novelty and respite. A proponent of social justice, he promoted the concept of regionalism, hoping that the shared physical environment of Northern Ireland would give his people a common ground despite their religious and social differences. His Collected Poems, 1932-1967, published in 1968, was well received by critics.
After his retirement from the art world in 1972, he devoted himself to writing, producing six new volumes of poetry, and his familiar tone of detachment became more personal. The Rain Dance, published in 1978, contained a sequence of poems, “Sonnets for Roberta,” dedicated to his wife, who had died in 1975. Kites in Spring: A Belfast Boyhood, published in 1980, took an autobiographical turn. In addition, his later poetry turned toward a focus on the urban.
Hewitt was awarded two honorary doctorates: one from New University of Ulster and one from Queen’s University in Belfast. In 1984, he received the Gregory Medal from the Irish Academy of Letters. Known for his fine sense of craft, John Hewitt was influential to later Irish poets such as Seamus Heaney. He is distinguished by his pioneering effort in exploring Irish identity.