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Hilda Doolittle, also known as H.D., was an influential American Modernist poet and writer. Born in 1886, her work is characterized by its Imagist foundations, focusing on clarity and precision in language. She was involved with literary figures like Ezra Pound and William Carlos Williams, and her poetry often revisited classical mythology with a feminist perspective. Her personal life, including her relationships and psychoanalytic experiences with Freud, deeply influenced her autobiographical writings.
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Hilda Doolittle was born into a family of six, with her father being an astronomy professor and her mother a musician with ties to the Moravian Church
Moravian Emphasis on Equality and Education for Women
Doolittle's literary sensibilities were greatly influenced by the Moravian Church's emphasis on equality and education for women
Mother's Support for Pursuing the Arts
Despite her father's wishes for her to pursue a scientific career, Doolittle's mother supported her interest in the arts
Doolittle's time at Bryn Mawr College, although short-lived, allowed her to form significant relationships with future literary figures such as Ezra Pound, William Carlos Williams, and Marianne Moore
Doolittle's literary career began to take shape after she left college, with her short stories being published in various Philadelphia publications
Doolittle's move to London with her friend Frances Josepha Gregg allowed her to reconnect with Ezra Pound and become immersed in the burgeoning literary modernist scene
As a central figure in the Imagist movement, Doolittle embraced and advanced its tenets of clarity, precision, and economy of language
"Sea Garden" (1916)
Doolittle's poetry collection "Sea Garden" reflected her commitment to Imagist ideals and laid the foundation for her enduring influence on Modernist literature
"Magnagraecia" Series
Doolittle's "Magnagraecia" series, including the novels "Palimpsest" (1926) and "Hedylus" (1928), revisited classical mythology and literature with a critical eye on traditional patriarchal narratives
"Madrigal" Cycle
Doolittle's posthumously published "Madrigal" cycle delved into psychoanalysis and the exploration of the unconscious, showcasing her evolving writing style and themes
Doolittle lived with the wealthy British writer Bryher for over 25 years and maintained a close relationship with her for the rest of her life
Doolittle had a daughter, Perdita, with the musician Cecil Gray, and her interest in psychoanalysis influenced her autobiographical writings
Doolittle's analysis with Sigmund Freud in Vienna had a significant impact on her personal life and writing, as seen in her works "Bid Me to Live" (1960) and "Tribute to Freud" (1956)
Doolittle's avant-garde writing style, aligned with the Imagist movement's emphasis on direct treatment of the "thing" itself and use of precise language, has had a lasting impact on Modernist poetry
Doolittle's poetry drew heavily on Greek mythology and the works of Sappho, imbuing her poems with a passionate intensity and detachment
Doolittle's later works delved into psychoanalysis and feminist critique, solidifying her legacy as a pioneering feminist and Modernist poet