John Berryman

John Berryman (originally John Smith) (1914-1972) is a poet, born in MacAlester, Oklahoma. He is one of the leading figures of 20th century poetry, having written a cycle of complex and oblique poems called 'The Dream Songs' which, while difficult and often full of sorrow, are also witty and ironic. The main character is Henry, who bears many similarities to Berryman, though Berryman always insisted that they were not the same. Berryman wrote other books (regarded by the majority as lesser volumes) after completing the Dream Songs. Berryman committed suicide by jumping off a bridge in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

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