Delmore Schwartz was born on December 8, 1913, in New York City. He was raised in a Jewish household, with his parents being Romanian immigrants. At a young age, Schwartz showed a talent for writing and excelled in his studies.
Schwartz attended Columbia University, where he studied philosophy and literature. He later went on to study at the University of Wisconsin and New York University. His time in academia greatly influenced his writing and provided him with a strong foundation in various literary traditions.
Schwartz's literary career took off in the 1930s, with the publication of his acclaimed poem "In Dreams Begin Responsibilities." He continued to write and publish poetry, essays, and short stories throughout the 1940s and 1950s. In 1959, he released a collection of poems titled Summer Knowledge: New and Selected Poems, which won the prestigious Bollingen Prize.
Despite his success as a writer, Schwartz struggled with mental illness and alcoholism throughout his life. These struggles often overshadowed his literary achievements and impacted his personal relationships.
Schwartz was married twice in his life. His first marriage was to Gertrude Buckman from 1937 to 1943. The marriage ended in divorce, and Schwartz later married and divorced Elizabeth Pollet.
Tragically, Schwartz's demons eventually caught up with him, and he passed away at the young age of fifty-two. At the time of his death, he was living in New York City's Columbia Hotel, where he had been a resident for several years.
Despite his struggles, Delmore Schwartz's work continues to be celebrated for its depth, complexity, and insight into the human experience. His writing has influenced generations of poets and literary scholars and remains an important part of the American literary canon.