J. D. McClatchy
Joseph Donald McClatchy Jr., commonly known as J. D. McClatchy, was an influential American poet, literary critic, and educator, born in 1945 in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. He developed an early affinity for literature and went on to study at prestigious institutions such as Georgetown University and Yale, where he earned his PhD. McClatchy published several notable poetry collections, including "Hazmat," which was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize, and gained recognition as a literary critic through works like "American Writers at Home." He played a pivotal role as editor of the Yale Review from 1991 to 2017, revitalizing the publication during his tenure. In addition to poetry, McClatchy ventured into writing opera libretti, collaborating with renowned composers. His contributions to the literary world earned him numerous accolades, including fellowships and memberships in prestigious academies. In his later years, he drew on his personal experiences with cancer to inform his poetry before passing away in 2018 at the age of 72. McClatchy is remembered for his profound impact on contemporary American poetry and literature.
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J. D. McClatchy
- Born: August 12, 1945
- Birthplace: Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
- Died: April 10, 2018
- Place of death: New York City, New York
Biography
Joseph Donald (J. D.) McClatchy Jr. was born in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, in 1945, the eldest child in his family. He recalled that when he was four years old, his mother asked him to list his favorite activities, and he responded by listing books, puzzles, and records. At prep school, he learned what he termed "proper" reading by studying Homer. He attended Georgetown University, where he took a graduate seminar in Elizabethan literature, an experience he found deeply influential. Another important experience for McClatchy was taking a graduate seminar at Yale University with Harold Bloom, where the students discussed the poetry of Emily Dickinson at length.
McClatchy earned a PhD from Yale in 1974. He went on to teach at several universities and colleges, including Yale, Princeton University, Columbia University, the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), and Johns Hopkins University.
McClatchy published his first book of poetry, Scenes from Another Life in 1981. He subsequently published several other poetry collections, including the critically acclaimed Hazmat (2002), which was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in 2003, Mercury Dressing (2009), and Plundered Hearts (2014). McClatchy also became a well-known literary critic; his books on this subject include American Writers at Home (2004), Twenty Questions (Posed by Poems) (1998), and White Paper: On Contemporary American Poetry (1989). The latter volume received the Poetry Society of America’s Melville Case Award.
In 1991, McClatchy began editing the Yale Review, a position he held until 2017. He was credited with turning around the publication, which was on the verge of being discontinued, and improving its financial circumstances including by developing a permanent endowment. He also served as editor for the Voice of the Poet series for Random House AudioBooks, and he edited poetry anthologies and collections of poetry by Dickinson, James Merrill, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and other poets. In addition, he pursued his interest in music by writing opera libretti for composers including William Schuman, Lorin Maazel, Elliot Goldenthal, and others, and his work was performed around the world.
McClatchy enjoyed recognition as an important and well-considered poet during his career; his honors are extensive. He was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1998 and made a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters in 1999. He has received fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Academy of American Poets. He served as chancellor of the Academy of American Poets from 1996 until 2003 and as president of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences from 2009 to 2011. In addition, he received an Award in Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters and the 2000 Connecticut Governor’s Award, and he was a Literary Lion of the New York Public Library.
McClatchy married Chip Kidd, a designer known for his work on book jackets, in 2013. Diagnosed with cancer, McClatchy used his experience of the illness and treatment as fodder for much of his later poetry. He died of cancer at the age of seventy-two on April 10, 2018.
Bibliography
Aizenman, Hannah. "J. D. McClatchy in the New Yorker." The New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2018, www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/j-d-mcclatchy-in-the-new-yorker. Accessed 26 Nov. 2018.
Fox, Margalit. "J.D. McClatchy, Poet of the Body, in Sickness and Health, Dies at 72." The New York Times, 11 Apr. 2018,www.nytimes.com/2018/04/11/obituaries/jd-mcclatchy-poet-of-the-body-in-sickness-and-health-dies-at-72.html. Accessed 26 Nov. 2018.
"In Memoriam: Poet, Librettist, and Longtime Yale Review Editor J.D. McClatchy." YaleNews, 11 Apr. 2018, news.yale.edu/2018/04/11/poet-librettist-and-longtime-yale-review-editor-jd-mcclatchy. Accessed 26 Nov. 2018.
"J. D. McClatchy." Poetry Foundation, 2018, www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/j-d-mcclatchy. Accessed 26 Nov. 2018.
"J. D. McClatchy." Poets.org, Academy of American Poets, www.poets.org/poetsorg/poet/j-d-mcclatchy. Accessed 26 Nov. 2018.