Al Alvarez facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Al Alvarez
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Alvarez in 2006
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| Born | 5 August 1929 London, England |
| Died | 23 September 2019 (aged 90) |
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| Period | 1956–2019 |
Alfred Alvarez (born August 5, 1929 – died September 23, 2019) was a famous English writer. He was known as a poet, novelist, essayist, and critic. He often published his works using the names A. Alvarez or Al Alvarez.
About Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez was born in London, England. He went to The Hall School and Oundle School. Later, he studied English at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, where he did very well.
After college, he taught for a short time in Oxford and the United States. In his late twenties, he decided to become a full-time writer. From 1956 to 1966, he worked as a poetry editor and critic for The Observer newspaper. In this role, he helped introduce many important poets to British readers. These poets included John Berryman, Robert Lowell, Sylvia Plath, Zbigniew Herbert, and Miroslav Holub.
Alvarez wrote many non-fiction books. He wrote about different topics like divorce in Life After Marriage and dreams in Night. He also explored the oil industry in his book Offshore. He even wrote about his favorite hobbies, such as poker in The Biggest Game In Town. He also wrote about mountaineering in Feeding The Rat, which was about his climbing friend Mo Anthoine. His autobiography, published in 1999, is called Where Did It All Go Right?.
His poetry collection, The New Poetry, came out in 1962. It was seen as a fresh and new style of poetry. This book supported an American style of writing. It was different from what was considered the more traditional British poetry at the time. In 2010, he received the Benson Medal from the Royal Society of Literature for his contributions to literature.
Alvarez in Film and TV
In July 1989, Al Alvarez appeared on a TV show called After Dark. On this show, he discussed gambling with other guests.
Alvarez was also shown as a character in the 2003 film Sylvia. The actor Jared Harris played him in the movie. This film told the story of the difficult relationship between the poet Sylvia Plath and her husband Ted Hughes.
His Final Years
Al Alvarez passed away at the age of 90 on September 23, 2019. He died from viral pneumonia. He was survived by his second wife, Anne, and their two children, Luke and Kate. He had another son, Adam, from his first marriage, who had passed away before him. Al Alvarez is buried in Hampstead Cemetery in London.
His Legacy
In 1990, the British Library received Al Alvarez's important collection of writings. This collection included his letters and papers related to his poems, books, and scripts for plays, films, radio, and television. This means his work is kept safe for future generations to study and enjoy.
Selected Works
- The Shaping Spirit (1958)
- The School of Donne (1961)
- The New Poetry (1962)
- Under Pressure (1965)
- Beyond All This Fiddle (1968)
- The Savage God (1972)
- Beckett (Fontana Modern Masters, 1973)
- Hers (1974)
- Hunt (1979)
- Life After Marriage (1982)
- The Biggest Game in Town (1983)
- Feeding the Rat (1988)
- Day of Atonement (1991)
- Night (1995)
- Where Did It All Go Right? (1999)
- Poker: Bets, Bluffs, and Bad Beats (2001)
- New & Selected Poems (2002)
- The Writer's Voice (2005)
- Risky Business (2007)
- Pondlife (2013)
See also
In Spanish: Al Alvarez para niños
- Confessional poetry
