born Oct. 25, 1914, McAlester, Okla., U.S.
died Jan. 7, 1972, Minneapolis, Minn.
U.S. poet.
Berryman attended Columbia University and the University of Cambridge and later taught at various universities. Homage to Mistress Bradstreet (1956), one of his first experimental poems, assured his importance. His technical daring was also evident in 77 Dream Songs (1964, Pulitzer Prize), augmented to form a sequence of 385 "Dream Songs" in His Toy, His Dream, His Rest (1968). Later works include the deceptively offhand Love & Fame (1970) and Recovery (1973), an account of his struggle against alcoholism. He is noted for his confessional poetry laced with humour. Subject to deep depression, he committed suicide by jumping from a bridge.
Berryman
By courtesy of the University of Minnesota