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Timeline: Poetry

Years: c. 1500 BCE - 1999	Subject: Literature
Publisher: HistoryWorld	Online Publication Date: 2012
Current online version: 2012	eISBN: 9780191737114

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BCE CE

Year	Event
c. 1500 BCE	Sacrificial hymns of the Aryans, gathered in the Rigveda, become the earliest Sanskrit literature Go to Veda in The Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy (2 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 3100-1000 BCE Literature Religion Asia South Asia India (the subcontinent) India (republic)
c. 750 BCE	The Homeric texts, the Iliad and the Odyssey, are written down - probably in Ionia Go to Homer in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1000-600 BCE Greek literature Literature Europe Greece
c. 600 BCE	The poems of the Shi Jing, China's earliest work of literature, are gathered together Go to Chinese Mythology in A Dictionary of Asian Mythology (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1000-600 BCE 6th century BCE Literature Asia East Asia China
484 BCE	Aeschylus wins the prize for tragedy at the City Dionysia in Athens Go to Aeschylus (525?–456 bc) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 5th century BCE Greek literature Ancient Athens Performing arts Theatre Literature Drama Europe Greece
468 BCE	Sophocles wins the prize for tragedy in Athens, defeating Aeschylus in the competition Go to Sophocles in The Oxford Companion to World Mythology (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 5th century BCE Greek literature Ancient Athens Performing arts Theatre Literature Drama Europe Greece
454 BCE	Euripides enters the drama contest at the City Dionysia in Athens for the first time Go to Euripides (c.480–c.450 bc) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 5th century BCE Greek literature Ancient Athens Performing arts Theatre Literature Drama Europe Greece
423 BCE	Socrates is now sufficiently prominent to be satirized in Clouds, a comedy by Aristophanes Go to Aristophanes (c.448–c.380 bc) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 5th century BCE Greek literature Ancient Athens Performing arts Theatre Literature Drama Philosophy Europe Greece
c. 425 BCE	Aristophanes wins first prize in Athens for his comedy The Acharnians Go to Aristophanes (c.448–c.380 bc) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 5th century BCE Greek literature Ancient Athens Performing arts Theatre Literature Drama Europe Greece
37 BCE	Virgil's reputation is established by his ten Eclogues, influenced by the Italian countryside in the region of his birth near Mantua Go to Virgil (70–19 bc) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1st century BCE Latin literature Literature Europe Greece Italy
23 BCE	The first three books of Horace's Odes are published, written on his Sabine farm Go to Horace (c.65℃08 bc) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1st century BCE Latin literature Roman empire Literature Europe Greece Italy Empires
c. 20 BCE	A collection of witty love poems, entitled Amores, brings Ovid an early success Go to Ovid (43 bc–ad 18) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1st century BCE Latin literature Roman empire Literature Europe Greece Italy Empires
c. 380	Kalidasa, the most distinguished of India's authors in classical Sanskrit, is at the Gupta court in Patna Go to Kalidasa in The Oxford Companion to Theatre and Performance (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 4th century Literature Drama Asia South Asia India (the subcontinent) India (republic)
c. 600	The classic form of Arabic poetry, predating Islam, evolves as the qasidah Go to Arabic in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Linguistics (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 6th century 7th century Literature Asia West Asia
c. 730	Three of China's most famous poets - Wang Wei, Li Po and Tu Fu - are contemporaries during the T'ang dynasty Go to Li Po (701–62) in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 8th century Literature Asia East Asia China
778	An attack on Charlemagne's army, traditionally at the pass of Roncesvalles in the Pyrenees, is later the basis for the Chanson de Roland Go to Chanson de Roland in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 8th century Literature Europe Spain
c. 950	The material of the Eddas, taking shape in Iceland, derives from earlier sources in Norway, Britain and Burgundy Go to Edda in The Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 10th century Literature English literature Literature in English British Isles Europe France Norway Britain
c. 1080	Omar Khayyám, mathematician and astronomer, writes four-line verses, or quatrains, in his spare time Go to quatrain in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 11th century Literature Asia Central Asia Iran (Persia)
c. 1102	The chansons de geste, performed by professional minstrels in castles and manors, celebrate the exploits of Charlemagne and his paladins Go to chansons de geste in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 12th century Literature French literature Europe France
c. 1120	The troubadours of Provence develop a new form of love poetry in French, introducing courtly love Go to courtly love in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 12th century Literature French literature Europe France
c. 1130	A popular French poem, the Chanson de Roland, turns a minor disaster in one of Charlemagne's campaigns into a tale of epic heroism Go to Roland in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 12th century Literature French literature Europe France
c. 1160	Chrétien de Troyes and other French authors turn the stories of Arthur and his knights into a romance of courtly love Go to ‘Allegro, L’ in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 12th century Literature French literature Europe France
1257	The Persian poet Sa'di publishes his Bustan ('Orchard'), a collection of moral tales in verse Go to Classical Persian in The Oxford Guide to Literature in English Translation (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 13th century Literature Asia Central Asia Iran (Persia)
c. 1260	A new form of poetry is written in northern Italy, described later by Dante as a sweet new style - the dolce stil nuovo Go to dolce stil novo in The Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 13th century Literature Italian literature Europe Italy
c. 1307	Dante, in exile from Florence, begins work on The Divine Comedy - completing it just before his death, 14 years later Go to Dante Alighieri (1265–1321) in The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Renaissance 14th century Italian Renaissance Literature Italian literature Florence Europe Italy
1327	Petrarch glimpses Laura in a church in Avignon and falls helplessly in love with her - or so he tells us Go to Petrarch (1304–74) in The Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy (2 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: Renaissance 14th century Italian Renaissance Literature Italian literature Europe Italy
1341	A laurel wreath is placed on the brow of Petrarch in Rome, in a renewal of interest in the classical world Go to Petrarch (1304–74) in The Oxford Companion to Western Art (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Renaissance 14th century Italian Renaissance Literature Italian literature Europe Italy
c. 1367	A narrator who calls himself Will, and whose name may be Langland, begins the epic poem of Piers Plowman Go to Piers Plowman in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: Britain 1066-1500 14th century Literature English literature Literature in English British Isles Europe Britain One of four new yeomen of the chamber in Edward III's household is Geoffrey Chaucer Go to Chaucer, Geoffrey (c.1343–1400 in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: Britain 1066-1500 14th century Literature English literature Literature in English British Isles Europe Britain
c. 1370	The Persian poet Hafiz perfects a form of short poem, the ghazal, dwelling on the pleasures of life with an undercurrent of Sufi mysticism Go to ghazal in The Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 14th century Literature Asia Central Asia Iran (Persia)
c. 1375	The courtly poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight tells of a mysterious visitor to the round table of King Arthur Go to Gawain and the Green Knight, Sir in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Britain 1066-1500 14th century Literature English literature Literature in English British Isles Europe Britain
1385	Chaucer completes Troilus and Criseyde, his long poem about a legendary love affair in ancient Troy Go to Troilus and Criseyde in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Britain 1066-1500 14th century Literature English literature Literature in English British Isles Europe Britain
c. 1387	Chaucer begins an ambitious scheme for 100 Canterbury Tales, of which he completes only 24 by the time of his death Go to Canterbury Tales in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: Britain 1066-1500 14th century Literature English literature Literature in English British Isles Europe Britain
1461	Francois Villon, recently released from prison, writes his Ballad of the Ladies of Times Past Go to Villon, François (1430–63?) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 15th century Literature French literature Europe France
1487	Boiardo publishes a romantic epic, Orlando Innamorato, about Roland's love for a bewitching princess Go to Orlando Innamorato in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Renaissance 15th century Italian Renaissance Literature Italian literature Europe Italy
1516	Ariosto, in Orlando Furioso, tells of Roland's madness when he is abandoned by the pagan princess Angelica Go to Orlando Furioso in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Renaissance 16th century Italian Renaissance Literature Italian literature Europe Italy
1550	Pierre de Ronsard publishes the first four books of his Odes Go to Ronsard, Pierre de (1524–85) in The Oxford Companion to Shakespeare (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 16th century Literature French literature Europe France
1572	Luis de Camoëns publishes The Lusiads, the poem which becomes Portugal's national epic Go to Camões, Luis de (1524–80) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 16th century Literature Europe Portugal
1581	Tasso, in Gerusalemme Liberata ('Jerusalem Liberated'), turns the first crusade into a romantic epic Go to Tasso, Torquato (1544–95) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Renaissance 16th century Italian Renaissance Literature Italian literature Jerusalem Europe Italy
1590	English poet Edmund Spenser celebrates the Protestant Elizabeth I as The Faerie Queene Go to Spenser, Edmund in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 16th century Literature English literature Literature in English British Isles Europe Britain
1609	Shakespeare's sonnets, written ten years previously, are published Go to Shakespeare, William (1564–1616) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 17th century Literature English literature Literature in English British Isles Europe Britain
1633	George Herbert's only volume of poems, The Temple, is published posthumously Go to Herbert, George (1593–1633) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 17th century Literature English literature Literature in English British Isles Europe Britain
1637	John Milton's Lycidas is published in memory of a Cambridge friend, Edward King Go to Milton, John (1608–74) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 17th century Literature English literature Literature in English British Isles Europe Britain
1650	The poems of Massachusetts author Anne Bradstreet are published in London under the title The Tenth Muse Lately Sprung Up in America Go to Bradstreet, Anne (c.1612–1672) in The Oxford Companion to English Literature (7 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 17th century Literature American literature English literature Literature in English British Isles British colonial America Europe Britain North America United States
1667	Paradise Lost is published, earning its author John Milton just £10 Go to Paradise Lost in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 17th century Literature English literature Literature in English British Isles Europe Britain
1712	Alexander Pope's Rape of the Lock introduces a delicate vein of mock-heroic in English poetry Go to Pope, Alexander (1688–1744) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Literature English literature Literature in English Papacy Great Britain - from 1707 British Isles Europe Britain
1751	English poet Thomas Gray publishes his Elegy written in a Country Church Yard Go to Gray, Thomas (1716–71) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 British Isles Europe Britain
1762	Fingal, supposedly by the medieval poet Ossian, is a forgery in the spirit of the times by James MacPherson Go to Macpherson, James (1736–96) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 British Isles Europe Britain
1778	Francis Hopkinson's popular ballad The Battle of the Kegs describes an ingenious American threat to the British navy Go to Battle of the Kegs, The in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century American Revolution American Revolutionary War Literature American literature Literature in English War Wars and Revolutions North America United States
1781	US poet Philip Freneau describes in The British Prison Ship the horrors of his experiences as a prisoner Go to Freneau, Philip Morin (1752–1832) in The Oxford Companion to English Literature (7 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century American Revolution American Revolutionary War Literature American literature Literature in English War Wars and Revolutions North America United States
1786	US author Philip Freneau publishes his first collection of poems, dating back to 1771 Go to Freneau, Philip Morin (1752–1832) in The Oxford Companion to English Literature (7 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
1789	William Blake publishes Songs of Innocence, a volume of his poems with every page etched and illustrated by himself Go to Blake, William (1757–1827) in The Oxford Companion to British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 British Isles Europe Britain
1791	Scottish poet Robert Burns publishes Tam o' Shanter, in which a drunken farmer has an alarming encounter with witches Go to ‘Tam o' Shanter’ in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Great Britain - from 1707 Scotland British Isles Europe Britain
1794	Goethe and Schiller become friends, and together create the movement known as Weimar classicism Go to Weimar classicism in The Oxford Encyclopedia of Theatre and Performance (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Performing arts Theatre Literature German literature Drama Fiction Europe Germany William Blake's volume Songs of Innocence and Experience includes his poem 'Tyger! Tyger! burning bright' See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 British Isles Europe Britain
1796	US author Joel Barlow publishes his mock-heroic poem The Hasty Pudding, inspired by a dish eaten in 1793 in France Go to Hasty Pudding, The in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
1797	Samuel Taylor Coleridge says that while writing Kubla Khan he is interrupted by 'a person on business from Porlock' Go to ‘Kubla Khan: a Vision in a Dream’ in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 British Isles Europe Britain
1798	English poets Wordsworth and Coleridge jointly publish Lyrical Ballads, a milestone in the Romantic movement Go to Lyrical Ballads, with a Few Other Poems in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 British Isles Europe Britain Samuel Taylor Coleridge's poem 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner' is published in Lyrical Ballads Go to Ancient Mariner, The Rime of the in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 British Isles Europe Britain
1804	William Blake includes his poem 'Jerusalem' in the Preface to his book Milton Go to Milton in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Jerusalem Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1805	Walter Scott publishes The Lay of the Last Minstrel, the long romantic poem that first brings him fame Go to Lay of the Last Minstrel, The in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1810	Walter Scott's poem Lady of the Lake brings tourists in unprecedented numbers to Scotland's Loch Katrine Go to Lady of the Lake, The in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 Scotland British Isles Europe Britain
1812	The first two cantos are published of Byron's largely autobiographical poem Childe Harold's Pilgrimage, bringing him immediate fame Go to Byron, George Gordon, 6th Baron Byron (1788–1824) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1814	US lawyer Francis Scott Key writes The Star-Spangled Banner after seeing the British bombard Fort McHenry Go to Star-spangled Banner in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
1817	US poet William Cullen Bryant publishes Thanatopsis, written seven years previously at the age of 16 Go to Bryant, William Cullen (1794–1878) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
1818	Percy Bysshe Shelley publishes probably his best-known poem, the sonnet Ozymandias Go to Shelley, Percy Bysshe (1792–1822) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1819	Byron begins publication in parts of his longest poem, Don Juan an epic satirical comment on contemporary life Go to Don Juan in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1820	English poet John Keats publishes Ode to a Nightingale, inspired by the bird's song in his Hampstead garden Go to Keats, John (1795–1821) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain English poet Percy Bysshe Shelley publishes Ode to the West Wind, written mainly in a wood near Florence Go to ‘Ode to the West Wind’ in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Florence Europe Britain 7-year-old Henry Wadsworth Longfellow has a poem published in a newspaper in his home town of Portland, Maine Go to Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth (1807–82) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States Russian poet Alexander Pushkin publishes his first long poem, Ruslan and Ludmilla Go to Pushkin, Alexander (1799–1837) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature Europe Russia
1823	An American poem, A Visit from St Nicholas, describes in every detail the modern Santa Claus Go to Moore, Clement Clarke (1779–1863) in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
1829	20-year-old Edgar Allan Poe publishes Al Aaraaf, Tamerlane, and Minor Poems Go to Poe, Edgar Allan in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
1830	Oliver Wendell Holmes' poem 'Old Ironsides' prompts a public response that saves the frigate from the scrapyard Go to Holmes, Oliver Wendell (1809–94) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
1831	Samuel Francis Smith's patriotic hymn America is sung for the first time on July 4 in Boston Go to “America in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Performing arts Music Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States Oliver Wendell Holmes' poem The Last Leaf is inspired by an aged survivor of the Boston Tea Party Go to Last Leaf, The in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
1832	The full text of Goethe's Faust, Parts 1 and 2, is published a few months after the poet's death Go to Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature German literature Germany
1833	Alexander Pushkin publishes a novel in verse, Eugene Onegin Go to Pushkin, Alexander (1799–1837) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature Fiction Europe Russia
1841	Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's Ballads and Other Poems includes 'The Village Blacksmith' and 'The Wreck of the Hesperus' Go to Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth (1807–82) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
1842	English poet Robert Browning publishes a vivid narrative poem about the terrible revenge of The Pied Piper of Hamelin Go to Browning, Robert in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain English author Thomas Babington Macaulay publishes a collection of stirring ballads, Lays of Ancient Rome Go to Macaulay, Thomas Babington (1800–59) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1845	Edgar Allan Poe publishes The Raven and Other Poems Go to Poe, Edgar Allan (1809–49) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
1846	The three Brontë sisters jointly publish a volume of their poems and sell just two copies Go to Brontë family in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1847	Ralph Waldo Emerson publishes his first collection of poems, many of which have appeared first in The Dial Go to Emerson, Ralph Waldo (1803–82) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
1850	Alfred Tennyson's elegy for a friend, In Memoriam, captures perfectly the Victorian mood of heightened sensibility Go to Tennyson, Alfred, 1st Baron (1809–92) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1854	Within six weeks of the Charge of the Light Brigade in the Crimea, Tennyson publishes a poem finding heroism in the disaster Go to Charge of the Light Brigade (1854) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1855	The first edition of Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass is published anonymously, at his own expense, and contains just 12 poems Go to Whitman, Walt (1819–92) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States Longfellow publishes his American Indian epic, The Song of Hiawatha, in an irresistibly catchy metre Go to Hiawatha, The Song of in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature American literature Literature in English American Indians North America United States Tennyson publishes a long narrative poem, Maud, a section of which ('Come into the garden, Maud') becomes famous as a song Go to Tennyson, Alfred, 1st Baron (1809–92) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1857	Charles Baudelaire publishes his first and extremely influential collection of poems, Les Fleurs du Mal Go to Baudelaire, Charles in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature French literature Europe France
1858	Longfellow uses a romantic story of early New England for his narrative poem The Courtship of Miles Standish Go to Courtship of Miles Standish, The in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
1859	Tennyson publishes the first part of Idylls of the King, a series of linked poems about Britain's mythical king Arthur Go to Tennyson, Alfred, 1st Baron Tennyson (1809–92) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Edward FitzGerald publishes The Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám, romantic translations of the work of the Persian poet Go to Fitzgerald, Edward (1809–83) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1861	Longfellow's narrative poem Paul Revere's Ride dramatizes a turning point at the start of the American Revolution Go to Paul Revere's Ride in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
1862	Julia Ward Howe publishes The Battle Hymn of the Republic, inspired by a visit to Union troops in the American Civil War Go to “Battle Hymn of the Republic, The in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature American literature Literature in English War American civil war Wars and Revolutions North America United States
1866	Walt Whitman laments the assassinated President Lincoln in his poem 'O Captain! My Captain!', published in Sequel to Drum-Taps Go to O Captain! My Captain! in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature American literature Literature in English US presidents Rulers and politicians North America United States Algernon Swinburne scandalizes Victorian Britain with his first collection, Poems and Ballads Go to Swinburne, Algernon Charles (1837–1909) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1867	French author Paul Verlaine wins a reputation with his first published collection, Poémes saturniens ('Saturnine Poems') Go to Verlaine, Paul (1844–96) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature French literature Europe France The first collection of 'Negro Spirituals' is published in book form in the US as Slave Songs of the United States Go to spiritual in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music (5 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Performing arts Music Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
1870	16-year-old Arthur Rimbaud sends some of his poems to Paul Verlaine, already an established poet Go to Rimbaud, Arthur (1854–91) in The Oxford Companion to English Literature (7 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature French literature Europe France Bret Harte's comic ballad Plain Language from Truthful James acquires a popular alternative title, The Heathen Chinee Go to Plain Language from Truthful James in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
1876	In 21 years Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass has grown from 12 poems to the two volumes of the sixth edition, published in the USA's centenary year Go to Korea, national library of, North Korea in The Oxford Companion to the Book (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States English poet Gerard Manley Hopkins develops a new verse form that he calls 'sprung rhythm' Go to sprung rhythm in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Lewis Carroll publishes The Hunting of the Snark, a poem about a voyage in search of an elusive mythical creature Go to Carroll, Lewis in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1884	Verlaine publishes Les Poètes maudits, short studies of various 'cursed poets' – including Rimbaud Go to Verlaine, Paul (1844–96) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature French literature Europe France
1889	23-year-old Irish author William Butler Yeats publishes his first volume of poems, The Wanderings of Oisin Go to Wanderings of Oisin, The in The Concise Oxford Companion to Irish Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Ireland Britain
1890	Poems is the first of six collections of Emily Dickinson's poetry, found among her papers on her death and published posthumously Go to Dickinson, Emily (1830–86) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
1891	A Gaelic pressure group, the Highland Association, is founded to preserve the indigenous poetry and music of Scotland Go to Mod, Royal National in The Oxford Companion to Scottish History (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Performing arts Music Literature English literature Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 Scotland British Isles Europe Britain
1892	Leaves of Grass, still growing, is published in its ninth edition in the year of Walt Whitman's death Go to Leaves of Grass in The Oxford Companion to the Book (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
1896	The prolific US poet Edwin Arlington Robinson publishes The Torrent and the Night Before, his first poems about the fictional Tilbury Town Go to Robinson, E. A. (1869–1935) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States English poet A.E. Housman publishes his first collection, A Shropshire Lad Go to Housman, A. E. (1859–1936) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1902	John Masefield's poem 'Sea Fever' is published in Salt-Water Ballads Go to Masefield, John (1878–1967) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Literature English literature Literature in English War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1904	Constantine Cavafy prints fourteen of his poems in a pamphlet for private distribution Go to Cavafy, Constantine (1863–1933) in The Oxford Companion to English Literature (7 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1900s 20th century Literature Europe Greece
1908	Ezra Pound's first book of poems, A Lume Spento, is published in Italy Go to Pound, Ezra (1885–1972) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1900s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
1910	In his poem Cargoes John Masefield compares a 'dirty British coaster' with two romantic boats from the past Go to Masefield, John (1878–1967) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1910s 20th century Literature English literature Literature in English War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Constantine Cavafy prints a few more of his poems to add to the fourteen privately printed in 1904 Go to Cavafy, Constantine Peter (1863–1933) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Literature Europe Greece Rudyard Kipling publishes If, which rapidly becomes his most popular poem among the British Go to Kipling, Rudyard (1865–1936) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Literature English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1911	Rupert Brooke publishes Poems, the only collection to appear before his early death in World War I Go to Brooke, Rupert Chawner (1887–1915) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Literature English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1912	Rabindranath Tagore publishes a collection of his Bengali poems in Gitanjali Go to Tagore, Rabindranath (1861–1941) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Literature Asia South Asia India (the subcontinent) The Russian poet Anna Akhmatova publishes Evening, her first collection of poems Go to Akhmatova, Anna (1889–1966) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Literature Europe Russia Renascence is the title poem in college student Edna St Vincent Millay's first published collection Go to Millay, Edna St. Vincent (1892–1950) in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States Walter De la Mare establishes his reputation with the title poem of his collection The Listeners Go to de la Mare, Walter (1873–1956) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Literature English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1913	US poet Robert Frost publishes his first book of poems, A Boy's Will Go to Frost, Robert (1874–1963) in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States The Russian poet Osip Mandelstam publishes his first collection, Stone Go to Mandelstam, Osip in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Literature Europe Russia
1914	The Chilean poet Gabriela Mistral makes her name with her first collection, Sonetos de la muerte Go to Mistral, Gabriela (1889–1957) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Literature American literature China Latin America Chile South America The poem 'Mending Wall' features in Robert Frost's collection North of Boston Go to Frost, Robert (1874–1963) in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States The American writer Amy Lowell publishes an Imagist collection of poems, Sword Blades and Poppy Seed Go to Lowell, Amy (1874–1925) in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States The Swedish-American poet Carl Sandburg makes his name with 'Chicago', published in the magazine Poetry Go to Sandburg, Carl (1878–1967) in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
1915	Canadian army surgeon John McCrae writes 'In Flanders Fields' after a friend is killed in the trenches Go to McCrae, John (1872 – 1918) in The Oxford Companion to Canadian Literature (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Literature Europe Belgium Australian author C.J. Dennis creates the Sentimental Bloke, featuring first in a book of poems and four years later in a film Go to Dennis, (Clarence Michael James) C. J. (1876–1938) in The Oxford Companion to Australian History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English Australia and Oceania Australia The Russian poet and dramatist Vladimir Mayakovsky publishes his first major long poem, A Cloud in Trousers Go to Mayakovsky, Vladimir Vladimirovich (1893–1930) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Literature Europe Russia Edgar Lee Masters makes his name as a poet with the publication of Spoon River Anthology Go to Masters, Edgar Lee (1868?–1950) in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States Rupert Brooke's 1914 and Other Poems is published a few months after his death in Greece Go to Brooke, Rupert Chawner (1887–1915) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Literature English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1916	Earth's the right place for love' in Robert Frost's 'Birches', included in his collection Mountain Interval Go to Frost, Robert (1874–1963) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States Robert Graves publishes his first book of poems, Over the Brazier Go to Graves, Robert Ranke (1895–1985) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Literature English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain The Imagist poet H.D. (Hilda Doolittle) publishes her first collection, Sea Garden Go to Doolittle, Hilda (1886–1961) in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
1917	Wounded at the front on the Somme, the poet Wilfred Owen is invalided home to Britain Go to Owen, Wilfred (1893–1918) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Literature French literature War Europe France Paul Valéry wins praise for his long symbolic poem La Jeune Parque Go to Valéry, Paul (-Ambroise) (1871–1945) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Literature French literature Europe France
1918	In Alexander Blok's poem The Twelve, Christ leads his apostles in support of Russia's revolution Go to Blok, Alexander (28 Nov. 1880) in The Continuum Companion to Twentieth Century Theatre (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Literature Europe Russia Wilfred Owen, having returned to the front, is killed by machine-gun fire a week before the end of the war Go to Owen, Wilfred (1893–1918) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Literature War Europe France
1919	Quia Pauper Amavi contains the first three of Ezra Pound's eventually more than 100 cantos Go to Pound, Ezra (1885–1972) in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
1920	Ezra Pound publishes Hugh Selwyn Mauberley, a poem that reflects on the practice of poetry itself Go to Pound, Ezra (1885–1972) in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
1921	Marianne Moore calls her first published collection simply Poems Go to Moore, Marianne (1887–1972) in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
1922	James Joyce's novel Ulysses is published in Paris, by Sylvia Beach, because of censorship problems elsewhere Go to Joyce, James Augustine (1882–1941) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Literature French literature British Isles Europe France Ireland Britain Marina Tsvetaeva completes an anti-Soviet cycle of poems, The Encampment of the Swans Go to Tsvetaeva, Marina Ivanovna (1892–1941) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Literature Europe Russia Boris Pasternak makes his name with his third volume of poems, My Sister Life Go to Pasternak, Boris Leonidovich (1890–1960) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Literature Europe Russia John Galsworthy publishes his novels about the Forsyte family as a joint collection under the title The Forsyte Saga Go to Galsworthy, John (1867–1933) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Literature English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain American-born poet T.S. Eliot publishes The Waste Land, an extremely influential poem in five fragmented sections Go to Eliot, T. S. (1888–1965) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Literature English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Valéry's collection Charmes includes probably his best-known poem, 'Le Cimetière marin' Go to Valéry, Paul (-Ambroise) (1871–1945) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Literature French literature Europe France
1923	Argentinian author Jorge Luis Borges publishes his first collection of poems, Fervor de Buenos Aires ('Fervour of Buenos Aires') Go to Borges, Jorge Luis (1899–1986) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Literature American literature Latin America Argentina Brazil South America Wallace Stevens' first collection, Harmonium, sells 100 copies Go to Stevens, Wallace (1879–1955) in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States Robert Frost publishes a new collection of poems, New Hampshire Go to Frost, Robert (1874–1963) in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States The US poet e.e. cummings publishes his first collection, Tulips and Chimneys Go to Cummings, E[dward] E[stlin] (1894–1962) in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States US poet Edna St Vincent Millay publishes The Harp-Weaver and Other Poems Go to Millay, Edna St. Vincent (1892–1950) in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States Rainer Maria Rilke publishes his Duino Elegies and his Sonnets to Orpheus Go to Rilke, Rainer Maria (1875–1926) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Literature German literature Germany
1924	US poet Robinson Jeffers publishes his first successful collection, Tamar and Other Poems Go to Jeffers, Robinson (1887–1962) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States 20-year-old Chilean poet Pablo Neruda publishes one of his best-known collections, Twenty Love Poems Go to Neruda, Pablo (1904–1973) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Literature American literature China Latin America Chile South America US poet E.A. Robinson publishes a narrative poem, The Man Who Died Twice, about the dissipation of artistic talent Go to Robinson, Edwin Arlington (1869–1935) in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
1925	Italian poet Eugenio Montale publishes his first collection, Bones of the Cuttlefish Go to Montale, Eugenio (1896–1981) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Literature Italian literature Europe Italy
1926	Hugh MacDiarmid writes his long poem A Drunk Man Looks at the Thistle in a revived version of the Lallans dialect of the Scottish borders Go to MacDiarmid, Hugh (1892–1978) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Literature English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 Scotland British Isles Europe Britain Dorothy Parker has a best-seller with her first collection of verse, Enough Rope Go to Parker, Dorothy Rothschild (1893–1967) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
1928	W.B. Yeats's new volume of poems, The Tower, includes 'Sailing to Byzantium' Go to Yeats, W. B. (1865–1939) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Literature British Isles Europe Ireland Britain Stephen V. Benét publishes a verse narrative of the Civil War under the title John Brown's Body Go to Benét, Stephen Vincent (1898–1943) in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States García Lorca wins fame with his book of poems Gypsy Ballads Go to García Lorca, Federico (1898–1936) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Literature Europe Spain
1929	Blind Fireworks is Ulster writer Louis MacNeice's first collection of poems Go to MacNeice, Louis (1907–63) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Literature English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1930	English author W.H. Auden's first collection of poetry is published with the simple title Poems Go to Auden, W(ystan) H(ugh) (1907–1973) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Literature English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1931	The US poet Ogden Nash has an immediate success with his first volume of poems, Hard Lines Go to Nash, Ogden (1902–71) in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
1932	US poet Archibald MacLeish publishes a narrative epic, Conquistador, about the conquest of Mexico Go to MacLeish, Archibald (1892–1982) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Literature English literature Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 Europe Britain Latin America Mexico
1933	Pablo Neruda increases his international reputation with a collection of surrealist poems, Residencia en la tierra ('Residence on earth') Go to Neruda, Pablo (1904–1973) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Literature American literature China Latin America Chile South America The Pylon group of British poets get their name from Stephen Spender's poem 'The Pylons' Go to Pylon School in The Oxford Companion to English Literature (7 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Literature English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain 19-year-old Mexican poet Octavio Paz publishes his first collection, Wild Moon Go to Paz, Octavio (1914–1998) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Literature American literature Latin America Central America Mexico
c. 1935	A collection of Constantine Cavafy's poems is published in Alexandria in an undated edition Go to Cavafy, Constantine Peter (1863–1933) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Literature Africa North Africa Egypt Europe Greece
1938	Delmore Schwartz publishes his first book of poems, In Dreams Begin Responsibilities Go to Schwartz, Delmore (1913–68) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
1939	T.S. Eliot gives cats a poetic character in Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats Go to Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Literature English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
c. 1942	US poet Ezra Pound, in Italy during the war, broadcasts Fascist propaganda aimed at the United States Go to Pound, Ezra (1885–1972) in A Dictionary of Modern and Contemporary Art (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1940s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English Italian literature Europe Italy North America United States US poet Randall Jarrell publishes his first collection, Blood for a Stranger Go to Jarrell, Randall (1914–65) in The Oxford Companion to Twentieth-Century Literature in English (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1940s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
1944	Boston writer Robert Lowell publishes his first book of poems, Land of Unlikeness Go to Lowell, Robert (1917–77) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1940s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States The separate poems forming T.S. Eliot's Four Quartets are brought together for the first time as a single volume, published in New York Go to Eliot, T. S. (1888–1965) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1940s 20th century Literature American literature English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain North America United States
1946	Robert Lowell's second collection, Lord Weary's Castle, contains 'The Quaker Graveyard in Nantucket' and 'Mr Edwards and the Spider' Go to Lord Weary's Castle in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1940s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States Ezra Pound, charged with treason for his wartime broadcasts, begins twelve years in a US hospital for the criminally insane Go to Pound, Ezra Weston Loomis (1885–1972) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1940s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States US poet Elizabeth Bishop publishes her first collection of poems, North and South Go to Bishop, Elizabeth (1911–1979) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1940s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
1948	US poet Theodore Roethke publishes The Lost Son, his second collection Go to Roethke, Theodore (1908–63) in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1940s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States Ezra Pound publishes Pisan Cantos, about his postwar imprisonment in an American detention centre near Pisa Go to Cantos, The in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1940s 20th century Literature Italian literature Europe Italy US novelist and poet Jack Kerouac coins a term for his contemporaries, the Beat Generation Go to Beat and Beat Generation in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1940s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English Fiction Social and domestic Society North America United States
1949	Annie Allen, by US author Gwendolyn Brooks, describes in narrative verse the life of a black girl in contemporary USA Go to Annie Allen in The Concise Oxford Companion to African American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1940s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
1950	The Chilean poet Pablo Neruda publishes his epic account of South America and its people, Canto general Go to Neruda, Pablo (1904–1973) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Literature American literature China Latin America Chile South America
1953	US author James Baldwin publishes his first novel, Go Tell It on the Mountain, set in Harlem Go to Baldwin, James (1924–1987) in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
1955	English poet Philip Larkin finds his distinctive voice in his collection The Less Deceived Go to Larkin, Philip Arthur (1922–1985) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Literature English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1956	English poet Ted Hughes marries US poet Sylia Plath Go to Hughes, Ted (1930–1998) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Literature American literature English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain North America United States Lawrence Ferlinghetti is prosecuted and acquitted for publishing Allen Ginsberg's Howl Go to Ferlinghetti, Lawrence (1920– ) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
1957	The Hawk in the Rain is English author Ted Hughes' first volume of poems Go to Hughes, Ted (1930–1998) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Literature English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain English author Stevie Smith publishes her collection of poems Not Waving but Drowning Go to Smith, Stevie (1903–1971) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Literature English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1960	The Colossus is US author Sylvia Plath's first collection of poems Go to Plath, Sylvia (1932–63) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States Flower, Fist and Bestial Wail is the first of many collections of poems by US poet Charles Bukowski Go to Bukowski, Charles (1920–1994) in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States English poet John Betjeman publishes his long autobiographical poem Summoned by Bells Go to Summoned by Bells in The Oxford Companion to Twentieth-Century Literature in English (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Literature English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain US novelist John Barth publishes The Sot-Weed Factor, a picaresque life of Edmund Cook set on a family tobacco plantation in Maryland Go to Sot-Weed Factor, The in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
1961	In Babi Yar the dissident Soviet poet Yevgeny Yevtushenko tackles the subject of Russian anti-Semitism Go to Babi Yar in The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Literature Europe Russia
1962	James Baldwin's third novel Another Country explores the conflicts in the life of a young unemployed black musician Go to Baldwin, James (1924–1987) in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States John Ashbery's radical collection The Tennis Court Oath includes poems composed of sliced up fragments Go to Ashbery, John (1927–) in The Oxford Companion to Twentieth-Century Poetry in English (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States Benjamin Britten's War Requiem, setting poems by Wilfred Owen, is first performed in the rebuilt Coventry Cathedral Go to War Requiem in The Oxford Companion to Music (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Performing arts Music Literature English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1963	Sexual intercourse begins in this year, according to Philip Larkin's 1974 poem Annus Mirabilis Go to Larkin, Philip (1922–85) in The Oxford Companion to English Literature (7 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Literature English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1964	US poet John Berryman's 77 Dream Songs introduce Henry, his alter ego Go to Berryman, John (1914–72) in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States Robert Lowell's For the Union Dead takes its title from the last poem, about modern disregard for a Civil War monument Go to For the Union Dead in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States New Zealand poet Fleur Adcock publishes her first collection, The Eye of the Hurricane Go to Adcock, Fleur (1934–) in The Oxford Companion to Twentieth-Century Poetry in English (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English Australia and Oceania New Zealand
1965	US author Randall Jarrell's poem The Lost World provides the title for his last published book Go to Jarrell, Randall (1914–65) in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
1966	Irish poet Seamus Heaney wins critical acclaim for Death of a Naturalist, his first volume containing more than a few poems Go to Heaney, Seamus Justin (1939– ) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Literature English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 Northern Ireland British Isles Europe Ireland Britain
1967	US poet Anne Sexton publishes Live or Die, a collection containing a poem to her dead friend Sylvia Plath Go to Sexton, Anne (1928–74) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States Three young Liverpool poets publish a shared anthology under the title The Mersey Sound Go to McGough, Roger (1937– ) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Literature English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1968	Ezra Pound publishes his last collection of cantos, Drafts and Fragments of Cantos CX - CXVII Go to Cantos, The in The Oxford Companion to Twentieth-Century Literature in English (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English Italian literature Europe Italy North America United States
1970	Australian author David Malouf is first published as a poet, with his collection Bicycle and Other Poems Go to Malouf, David (1934– ) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1970s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English Australia and Oceania Australia
1972	English poet James Fenton publishes his first collection, Terminal Moraine Go to Fenton, James (1949– ) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1970s 20th century Literature English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1978	English author Andrew Motion publishes his first collection of poems, The Pleasure Steamers Go to Motion, Andrew (1952– ) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1970s 20th century Literature English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1981	War Music is the first instalment of Christopher Logue's version of the Iliad Go to Logue, Christopher (1926–2011) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1980s 20th century Literature English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1984	US poet Robert Pinsky publishes an acclaimed verse translation, The Inferno of Dante Go to Pinsky, Robert (1940–) in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1980s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
1985	British Rasta poet Benjamin Zephaniah publishes his second collection as The Dread Affair Go to Zephaniah, Benjamin (1958– ) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1980s 20th century Literature English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1987	English poets John Fuller and James Fenton collaborate in a volume of satirical poems, Partingtime Hall Go to Fuller, John (1937– ) in The Oxford Companion to English Literature (7 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1980s 20th century Literature English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1990	West Indian author Derek Walcott publishes Omeros, an epic poem of the Caribbean Go to Walcott, Derek (1930– ) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1990s 20th century Literature Latin America Caribbean
1992	English poet Thom Gunn's The Man with Night Sweats deals openly with AIDS Go to Gunn, Thom (1929–2004) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1990s 20th century Literature English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1993	US author A.R. Ammons publishes a book-length poem, Garbage, typed on narrow strips of adding-machine paper Go to Ammons, A[rchie] R[andolph] (1926–2001) in The Oxford Companion to American Literature (6 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1990s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
1995	US poet Philip Levine wins a Pulitzer Prize with his volume of poems Simple Truth Go to Levine, Philip (1928–) in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1990s 20th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
1997	The poems forming Ted Hughes's Birthday Letters describe his relationship with Sylvia Plath Go to Hughes, Ted (1930–1998) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1990s 20th century Literature English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1999	A translation by Irish author Seamus Heaney brings many new readers to the Old English poem Beowulf Go to Heaney, Seamus [Justin] (1939) in The Concise Oxford Companion to Irish Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1990s 20th century Literature Northern Ireland British Isles Europe Ireland Britain

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date: 22 May 2025

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