W. H. Auden (1907-1973) was born in York, England; Anglo-American poet, playwright, essayist, and literary critic; known for his stylistic and technical abilities, as well as his wide range of themes, including politics, morality, love, and religion. He moved to the U.S. in 1939, and became an American citizen in 1946. His books of poetry include Poems, published when he was 23 years old, The Orators,The Age of Anxiety, and The Dyer’s Hand. From 1956 to 1961 he was Professor of Poetry at Oxford; his lectures were popular with students and faculty. After his death at age 66, his poems became known to a much wider public than during his lifetime because of their use in films, broadcasts, and popular media.

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To read Auden’s poem, ‘September 1, 1939,’ click: