Stephen Vincent Benét
One interesting fact about Stephen Vincent Benét is that he was one of the most widely read American poets between 1928 and 1943, surpassing famous poets like Robert Frost and T.S. Eliot.
Poet
July 22, 1898
Cancer
March 13, 1943
44
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Stephen Vincent Benét (1898-1943) was a renowned American poet, short story writer, and novelist who gained significant acclaim during his lifetime. He is best known for his epic poem “John Brown’s Body,” which earned him the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1929. Benét also authored notable short stories such as “The Devil and Daniel Webster” and “By the Waters of Babylon,” as well as other works like “A Book of Americans,” “The Burning City,” and “Western Star.” From 1928 to 1943, he was considered one of the most prominent and respected American poets, surpassing the fame of contemporaries like Robert Frost, T.S. Eliot, William Carlos Williams, and Wallace Stevens in both readership and critical acclaim.