Delmore Schwartz: The Life of an American Poet

Rating:
Summary: Balanced and Insightful
Review: Delmore Schwartz's legacy has become the one he dreaded most-that he never lived up to his potential, despite his early successes. Considered one of the most promising of the intellectual Partisan Review gang of 1930's New York, after his warmly received debut with the poetry and prose collection "In Dreams Begin Responsibilities," Delmore started a long alienating decline into drinking, drugs and paranoia.
James Atlas writes with great appreciation for Delmore's talent and personality, but also honestly addresses the flaws that drove him to destruction. I read this biography after reading Saul Bellow's excellent "Humboldt's Gift," which includes the thinly fictionalized retelling of Delmore's breakdown. In his book, Atlas recreates the era Delmore helped to define, by showing the relationships between him and other leading figures of his times. Delmore had contacts that ranged from TS Eliot to Lou Reed, and for a time he was considered the voice of his generation. Atlas supports the true genius Delmore was, despite the poet's emotional problems. Atlas never patronizes or makes excuses for his subject in this cautionary tale.