Randall Jarrell (6 May, 1914 – 14 October, 1965) was an American poet, writer and children’s author. By Source, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=36707992 1) Even though he was born in Nashville, TN, Mr. Jarrell spent most of his childhood in Long Beach, Hollywood, CA. 2) He was a lonely and troubled child, which reflects in his poems. 3) When his parents separated at age 11, Mr. Jarrell lived with his grandparents (on his father’s side) before moving back to Nashville with his mother. 4) Mr. Jarrell was influenced by poets Allen Tate and Robert Penn Warren and especially John Crowe Ransom. 5) During World War II Mr. Jarrell served in the Air Force. 6) He made his reputation as a poet to the general public due to some of his poignant poems about the war. 7) Mr. Jarrell never made it thorough flight training though, and spent most of the war in Illinois and Arizona. 8) He worked as a professor of English at the Women’s College of the University of North Carolina, Greensboro. 9) He is the recipient of two Guggenheim fellowships. 10) Tragically, Mr. Jarrell was killed in a car accident in Greensboro, NC. Zohar – Man of…
The story is, of course, dated and some of it seem downright laughable or cringe worthy if not keeping in mind the attitudes at the times towards women and minorities.
The author wrote a profound book which captures the helplessness against a great tragedy, but also the profound human relationships which can occur from such a tragedy.
Every time I started to feel some sort of hope between the pages, Mr. Van Reybrouck crushes my beliefs in humanity within a few moments, for the struggle to start again.