As a child, Iris had emigrated from Italy with his mother, who arrived in Chicago in pursuit of the American dream. Driven by ambition and narcissism, he began publishing poetry in 1905, participated in the Chicago Renaissance, and continued publishing until two years before his death in 1967. With energy and persistance, the minor Chicago poet insinuated himself among the great and famous and simulated a life of literary stardom. Iris's self-projection as a neglected poetic genius often was designed to translate into monetary value, while confirming his role behind the scenes of twentieth-century literary history. Granting Iris the attention he haplessly courted all his life, Abbott discovers a forger of fame whose story provides a commentary, often parodic, on the place of poetry in his time.
As a child, Iris had emigrated from Italy with his mother, who arrived in Chicago in pursuit of the American dream. Driven by ambition and narcissism, he began publishing poetry in 1905, participated in the Chicago Renaissance, and continued publishing until two years before his death in 1967. With energy and persistance, the minor Chicago poet insinuated himself among the great and famous and simulated a life of literary stardom. Iris's self-projection as a neglected poetic genius often was designed to translate into monetary value, while confirming his role behind the scenes of twentieth-century literary history. Granting Iris the attention he haplessly courted all his life, Abbott discovers a forger of fame whose story provides a commentary, often parodic, on the place of poetry in his time.
Forging Fame: The Strange Career of Scharmel Iris
204
Forging Fame: The Strange Career of Scharmel Iris
204Hardcover(1)
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9780875803760 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Cornell University Press |
| Publication date: | 07/16/2007 |
| Edition description: | 1 |
| Pages: | 204 |
| Product dimensions: | 5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.88(d) |
| Age Range: | 18 Years |