John Jordan (poet) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Jordan
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Portrait by Reginald Gray, 1953
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| Born | 8 April 1930 Dublin |
| Died | 6 June 1988 (aged 58) Cardiff, Wales |
| Occupation | Poet, critic, short-story writer |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Education | University College Dublin; Pembroke College, Oxford |
| Relatives | Kathleen (sister), James (brother) |
John Jordan (1930–1988) was an important Irish writer. He was known for his poetry and short stories. He also worked as a literary critic and a broadcaster. John Jordan helped many new writers become famous in Ireland.
Contents
John Jordan's Life and Education
John Jordan was born in Dublin, Ireland, on April 8, 1930. He went to school at Synge Street CBS. Later, he studied at University College Dublin (U.C.D.). He also attended Pembroke College in Oxford, England.
When he was a teenager, John Jordan acted on stage. He performed at the famous Gate Theatre in Dublin. He won a special scholarship to study English and French at Oxford University.
Teaching and Traveling
In the mid-1950s, John Jordan returned to U.C.D. He became a lecturer, teaching English to students. He taught there until the late 1960s.
He also taught in other places. He lectured for a while at Memorial University in Newfoundland, Canada. He also spent a short time teaching at Princeton University in the United States.
A Champion of Irish Literature
John Jordan was a founding member of Aosdána. This is a special group that honors Irish artists. He was a respected literary critic. This means he wrote reviews and opinions about books and writers. He did this from the late 1950s until he passed away.
He died in June 1988 in Cardiff, Wales. He was there for a special summer school event.
John Jordan's Writings and Work
John Jordan was a talented writer of short stories and poems. He was also a broadcaster, sharing his ideas on radio and TV.
Editor of Poetry Ireland
In 1962, John Jordan brought back a literary magazine called Poetry Ireland. He was the editor of this magazine. He hoped it would help Dublin become a major center for literature again.
Through Poetry Ireland, he introduced many new poets. Some of these poets later became very famous. They included Paul Durcan, Michael Hartnett, and Seamus Heaney. This version of Poetry Ireland ran until 1968–69.
In 1981, he became the first editor of a new magazine. It was called Poetry Ireland Review.
Other Contributions
John Jordan also reviewed novels for The Irish Times newspaper. He wrote a regular column for Hibernia magazine. He also contributed to other publications like Envoy and The Irish Press. He was a TV presenter and interviewed many artists.
He was a strong supporter of Gaelic literature. This is literature written in the Irish language. He translated works by Irish writers, like Pádraic Ó Conaire. He edited a book called The Pleasures of Gaelic Literature (1977). He also translated an essay by Aogán Ó Rathaille for another book.
John Jordan also strongly supported the later plays of Seán O'Casey. O'Casey was another famous Irish playwright.
Published Works
After his death, many of John Jordan's works were collected. His Collected Poems and Collected Stories were published in 1991. These books were put together by his literary executor, Hugh McFadden.
His selected prose, called Crystal Clear, was published in 2006. His Selected Poems came out in 2008. Some of his stories also appeared in other collections. These included the Penguin Book of Irish Short Stories.
John Jordan's literary papers and letters are now kept at the National Library of Ireland.
A Portrait of John Jordan
In 1953, a young Irish artist named Reginald Gray was asked to design the sets and costumes for a play. The play was "The Kings Threshold" by W.B. Yeats. It was being put on by University College Dublin.
John Jordan played the main role in this play. While preparing for the play, Reginald Gray started painting a
. He never quite finished it. Today, this portrait hangs in The Dublin Writers Museum in Ireland.
