Daniel Hoffman facts for kids

Daniel Gerard Hoffman (born April 3, 1923 – died March 30, 2013) was an American writer. He wrote poems and essays. He also taught at universities. In 1973, he became the Poet Laureate of the United States. This means he was a special poetry advisor to the Library of Congress.

Growing Up and School

Daniel Hoffman was born in New York City. During World War II, he served in the Army Air Corps. He worked as a technical writer and edited a science journal. He wrote about these experiences in his book Zone of the Interior.

He went to Columbia University and earned several degrees. He got his first degree in 1947 and his highest degree (a Ph.D.) in 1956.

His Writing Career

In 1954, Daniel Hoffman published his first book of poems. It was called An Armada of Thirty Whales. A famous poet named W. H. Auden chose this book for a special award. Auden said it offered a "new direction" for nature poetry.

Since then, Hoffman published ten more poetry books. He also wrote a memoir and seven books of criticism. A reviewer in 2003 said that Hoffman's poems were always joyful and engaging, even when he was 80 years old.

Teaching and Other Roles

Hoffman taught at several universities. These included Columbia University, Swarthmore College, and the University of Pennsylvania. He retired from the University of Pennsylvania as a respected English professor.

He was also a leader at the Academy of American Poets. From 1988 to 1999, he was the Poet in Residence at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City. There, he helped manage the American Poets' Corner. This is a special place that honors American poets.

Awards and Honors

Daniel Hoffman received many awards for his writing.

• In 1984, he won the Hazlett Memorial Award.
• He won the Aiken Taylor Award for Modern American Poetry in 2003.
• In 2005, he received the Arthur Rense Poetry Prize. This award is given to exceptional poets.
• He also won the Memorial Medal of the Magyar P.E.N. for translating Hungarian poetry.
• He received grants and fellowships from groups like the Guggenheim Foundation.
• Swarthmore College gave him an honorary degree in 2005.

His Family Life

Daniel Hoffman was married to Elizabeth McFarland for 57 years. She was also a poet. She worked as a poetry editor for Ladies' Home Journal magazine. They were married from 1948 until she passed away in 2005.

The couple spent their summers in Brooksville, Maine. In 2008, a collection of Elizabeth McFarland's poems was published. It was called Over the Summer Water and included an introduction by Daniel Hoffman.

Later Years and Passing

Daniel Hoffman passed away on March 30, 2013. He was 89 years old. He died in Haverford, Pennsylvania.