In June 1968, the magazine
Book Worldplaced Edward Dahlberg at the head of its list of “the ten most neglected American writers”, albeit that during the preceding decade he had published almost a book a year. Yet in that same month, Jonathan Williams was preparing a
festshcriftfor the author's forthcoming 70th birthday to which no less than 60 poets, novelists, and literary critics would present celebratory essays, tributes, and poems dedicated to Dahlberg. Such a contrast between general public neglect and informed minority esteem continues to this day. In authoritative, panoramic literary histories he may still be mentioned briefly if at all, whilst to his numerous scattered partisans he remains one of the great American writers of the twentieth century.
Dahlberg was born in
1881 words
Citation: Butterfield, Herbie. "Edward Dahlberg". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 01 July 2005 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=1119, accessed 26 November 2024.]