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John Frederick Nims

ジョン・フレデリック・ニムズ

Jon Furedorikku Nimuzu

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1913-11-20 （Muskegon, Michigan）
Died
1999-01-13 （Chicago, Illinois） age 85
Nationality
United States
Languages
English
Residence History
Muskegon, Michigan (birthplace) → Chicago, Illinois → Cambridge, Massachusetts (Harvard University) → Florence (University of Florence) → Toronto (University of Toronto) → Williamstown (Williams College) → Missouri (University of Missouri) → Chicago, Illinois (teaching/academic positions)

Career

Occupations
Poet, Translator, Editor, Academic
Active Years
1940-1999
Affiliations
Harvard University (taught English), University of Florence (taught), University of Toronto (taught), Williams College (taught), University of Missouri (taught), University of Illinois at Chicago (taught), Poetry magazine (editor, 1978–1984)
Influenced By
Classical and traditional English-language lyric traditions
Influenced
Later poets and translators (influence on form and translation practice)

Education

DePaul University
Degree: B.A. (推定)
Country: United States
Likely earned a bachelor's degree; exact year not specified in sources
University of Notre Dame
Degree: M.A.
Country: United States
Earned an M.A. (year not specified)
University of Chicago
Degree: Ph.D.
Year of Graduation: 1945
Country: United States
Awarded Ph.D. in 1945

Awards

American Academy of Arts and Letters grant
Organization: American Academy of Arts and Letters
Result: grant
National Foundation for the Arts and Humanities grant
Organization: National Foundation for the Arts and Humanities
Result: grant
Institute of the Humanities fellowship
Organization: Institute of the Humanities
Result: fellowship
Academy of American Poets fellowship
1982
Organization: Academy of American Poets
Result: fellowship
Guggenheim Fellowship
1986
Organization: John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation
Result: fellowship
Aiken Taylor Award for Modern American Poetry
1991
Organization: Aiken Taylor Award
Result: recipient
O.B. Hardison Prize
1993
Organization: O.B. Hardison Prize
Result: recipient
National Book Award (nominated)
Work: Knowledge of the Evening
Organization: National Book Awards
Result: nominated

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

The Powers Of Heaven And Earth: New And Selected Poems

2002 Poetry collection

A selected poems volume including later work; displays a wide thematic range and mature lyricism.

religionnatureformal technique

Western Wind

1992 Poetry/Introduction

A work serving as an introduction to poetry, combining essays and poetic selections.

poeticsform

Zany in Denim

1990 Poetry collection

A collection of poems mixing humor with everyday sensibilities.

humorthe everyday

The Six-Cornered Snowflake and Other Poems

1990 Poetry collection

A book of imaginatively constructed poems; selected for the New York Public Library's 'Ninety from the Nineties'.

imaginationform

The Kiss: A Jambalaya

1982 Poetry

A longer poem with symbolic and polyphonic elements.

lovesymbolism

Selected Poems

1982 Poetry collection

A selection of representative poems from across his career.

retrospectionform

Of Flesh and Bone

1967 Poetry collection

Contains poems exploring corporeality and human existence.

bodyexistence

Knowledge of the Evening

1960 Poetry collection

A collection centered on quietude and introspection. Nominated for the National Book Award.

introspectionsilence

A Fountain in Kentucky

1950 Poetry collection

An early collection evoking regional landscapes and memories.

regionmemory

The Iron Pastoral

1947 Poetry collection

Early postwar poems collected in his first major book.

postwarpastoral paradox

Five Young American Poets

1944 Anthology (co-edited)

An anthology introducing young American poets; he contributed/edited.

emerging poetsediting

Bibliography

  • The Powers Of Heaven And Earth: New And Selected Poems (2002)
  • Western Wind (1992)
  • Zany in Denim (1990)
  • The Six-Cornered Snowflake and Other Poems (1990)
  • The Kiss: A Jambalaya (1982)
  • Selected Poems (1982)
  • Of Flesh and Bone (1967)
  • Knowledge of the Evening (1960)
  • A Fountain in Kentucky (1950)
  • The Iron Pastoral (1947)
  • Five Young American Poets (1944)

Translations by Author

  • Translations of poetry (Euripides, Sappho to Valéry, St. John of the Cross, Michelangelo, etc.)

Translations of Works

Style & Themes

Literary Style
formally inclined lyricismclear and craft-focused poetic voicefaithful yet poetic approach to translation
Recurring Motifs
religious themesnatural imageryinterest in form and technique

Legacy

John F. Nims contributed widely as a poet, translator, and editor in the anglophone poetry world. He is noted for his translations and editorship of Poetry magazine, and his legacy includes a translation prize named in his honor (John Frederick Nims Memorial Prize).

Academic Societies

  • Influence on societies for English literature and poetry studies

Archives

  • Major public materials held in university libraries and poetry archives (details unspecified)

In Popular Culture

  • Cited and referenced in academic and educational contexts related to poetry

Trivia

  • Served as editor of Poetry magazine from 1978 to 1984.
  • The Poetry Foundation awards the John Frederick Nims Memorial Prize for poetry translation in his memory.