Celebrated Nobel-Winning Poet Louise Gluck Passes Away at 80
Renowned poet and Nobel laureate Louise Gluck, celebrated for her profound contributions to American literature, has passed away at the age of 80. Her editor, Jonathan Galassi, confirmed this sad news on Friday.
Gluck, a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet, succumbed to cancer at her residence in Cambridge, Massachusetts, as reported by her publisher. Over a career spanning more than six decades, she emerged as one of the most revered poets and essayists in contemporary America.
In a significant recognition of her talent and influence, Gluck was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2020. Notably, she was the first American poet to receive this prestigious literary accolade since T.S. Eliot in 1948.
Gluck’s literary prowess shone through her candid exploration of themes related to family and childhood throughout her body of work. The Swedish Academy, responsible for selecting Nobel laureates in literature, described her poetry as possessing an “unmistakable voice” and “austere beauty” when presenting her with the esteemed award.
In addition to the Nobel Prize, Louise Gluck earned the Pulitzer Prize for her poetry collection, “The Wild Iris,” in 1993. She also served as the Poet Laureate of the United States during 2003-2004.
Her literary impact extended beyond awards and recognition. Poet Tracy K. Smith, herself a Pulitzer laureate, expressed how Gluck’s poetry had been a source of salvation on numerous occasions.
In 2015, President Barack Obama honored her with the National Humanities Medal for her “decades of powerful lyric poetry that defies all attempts to label it definitively.”
Over her extensive career, Gluck authored over a dozen books of poetry, alongside several volumes of essays and the brief prose fable, “Marigold And Rose.” Her influence also reached aspiring writers as she shared her knowledge while teaching at prestigious institutions like Stanford and Yale.
Louise Gluck’s personal life was marked by two marriages and divorces. She was also a mother to her son, Noah. Her legacy as a poet and essayist remains a testament to her enduring impact on American literature and beyond.