1. Home
  2. All Artists
  3. Spender, Stephen (1909-95)

Spender, Stephen (1909-95)

Creator details

Name
Spender, Stephen (1909-95)
Nationality
British
Biography
Stephen Spender (1909-1995) was an English poet, essayist, and critic. He was born in London and educated at University College, Oxford. Spender was a member of the literary group known as the "Auden generation," which included W.H. Auden, Christopher Isherwood, and Cecil Day-Lewis. He was also a close friend of T.S. Eliot and Dylan Thomas. Spender's poetry often dealt with themes of love, politics, and social justice. His most famous works include "The Still Centre," "The Edge of Being," and "The Generous Days." He was also a prolific essayist and wrote on a wide range of topics, including literature, politics, and culture. In addition to his writing, Spender was a prominent figure in the cultural and political life of his time. He was a member of the Communist Party in the 1930s, but later became disillusioned with the party's policies. He was also a vocal advocate for gay rights and was one of the first public figures to come out as gay. Spender received numerous awards and honors throughout his career, including the Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry in 1971. He died in 1995 at the age of 86.
Back to Collection's list

Assets (62 in total)

W.H. Auden, Stephen Spender and Christopher Isherwood, at Sellin on the island of Ruegen, 1931 (b/w photo)
W. H. Auden and Chester Kallman at the PEN Conference in Venice, sitting outside Caffe Florian in Piazza San Marco, 1949 (b/w photo)
Lucian Freud, Tony Hyndman and John Craxton on the balcony of No.2 Maresfield Gardens, 1942 (b/w photo)
W. H. Auden, Cecil Day-Lewis and Stephen Spender at the PEN Conference in Venice, sitting outside Caffe Florian in Piazza San Marco, 1949 (b/w photo)
Self-portrait (b/w photo)
Stephen Spender (b/w photo)
Dorothy Brett in Taos, New Mexico, 1949 (b/w photo)
André Gide (b/w photo)
Sidney Nolan (b/w photo)
Willa Muir, Natasha Spender and Edwin Muir at the PEN Conference in Venice, sitting outside Caffe Florian in Piazza San Marco, 1949 (b/w photo)
Patrick Leigh Fermor at his home in Kalamitsi, Kardamyli, Greece (photo)
Frieda Lawrence and William Goyen in Taos, New Mexico, 1949 (b/w photo)
View all assets

Back to top