Interview with Richard Eberhart, February 26, 1981

Partial Transcript: The following is an unrehearsed interview with Richard Eberhart for the Robert Penn Warren Oral History Project.

Segment Synopsis: Eberhart discusses his friendship with Warren, including recent social visits to Vermont and New York. An instance with Eberhart and Clark is also recalled. The children of both Warren and Eberhart are briefly mentioned. The recent health of Warren is explored.

Keywords: Bill Meredith; Children; Dartmouth College; Ed Koch; Eleanor Clark; Encomiums; Health; Injuries; Middlebury College; New York Quarterly; Robert Penn Warren; Saratoga Springs (N.Y.); Swimming; The New England Review; Vermont

Subjects: American literature--20th century; Friendship; Life; Travel

Partial Transcript: Well, uh, from what you've been saying a minute ago, you knew Eleanor Clark long before you knew Warren, is that right? Or you just knew them separately?

Segment Synopsis: Ebehart's chronology of meeting the Warrens is established. It is found that Eberhart most likely met Warren before Clark. A former husband of Eleanor Clark's sister is discussed. The very first meeting of Warren and Eberhart at Harvard is also remembered. A brief instance with Warren's first wife is explored. The two marriages of Warren are compared as well.

Keywords: Anniversaries; Anthologies; Cambridge (Mass.); Divorces; Eleanor Clark; Emma Brescia; Haitian painters; Harvard University; Manic depression; Parties; Robert Penn Warren; Sisters; War poetry

Subjects: American literature--20th century; Art; Friendship; Psychology

Partial Transcript: And then what, uh, uh--why and when have you seen him in the period--

Segment Synopsis: Eberhart reveals that he and Warren corresponded in letters quite frequently. The humorous side of Warren is shown in an anecdote about the wedding of Eberhart's cousin-in-law. Warren's physical appearance at the wedding is described and emphasized.

Keywords: Celebrations; Charming; Clothes; Connecticut; Family; Letters; Painting; Relatives; Renovations; Robert Penn Warren; Weddings; Wit

Subjects: American literature--20th century; Friendship; Life

Partial Transcript: Then, I used to go to see Red, uh, and stay at their house sometime.

Segment Synopsis: Eberhart tells of an instance when he and Warren happened to be visiting each other when poet Randall Jarrell passed away under mysterious circumstances. Details of the case are given, including Jarrell's personal life, such as the dynamics between his step-children, second wife, ex-wife, and himself. Warren is revealed to have set up a memorial service for Jarrell at Yale a few months after the writer's death.

Keywords: Car accidents; Children; Deaths; John Berryman; North Carolina; Randall Jarrell; Robert Penn Warren; Suicide; The University Of Connecticut; Yale University

Subjects: American literature--20th century; Death; Friendship

Partial Transcript: Well, you seem to, uh, really enjoy Eleanor Clark.

Segment Synopsis: Eberhart briefly mentions his acquaintance with Warren's second wife before their marriage. Eberhart reflects on his friendship with Warren, along with the versatility of the writer in multiple types of literature. Warren's change to an emphasis on poetry rather than prose is also discussed.

Keywords: American Academy of Arts and Sciences; Beautiful; Cambridge (Mass.); Cleanth Brooks; Columbia University; Critics; Eleanor Clark; New York (N.Y.); Novels; Poetry; Robert Penn Warren; Scholars; Sisters; Southern Review

Subjects: American literature--20th century; Friendship; Novels

Partial Transcript: And I've tried since you wrote to me a while back, I've tried to find a copy of the Library of Congress Journal which I urge you to look up.

Segment Synopsis: Eberhart describes his piece which reviews Warren's latest collection of poetry called "Now and Then." Eberhart also tells of the narration style he believes that Warren uses when writing poetry. Warren's style is compared to that of Thomas Hardy and George Crabbe, and contrasted with poets such as Shelley and Wordsworth. Praise of Warren is given as well. Eberhart says that Warren's latest work is the best of the writer's career. Speculative reasons for this improvement in poetry are also given.

Keywords: Bill Meredith; Devotion; Family; George Crabbe; Library Of Congress Magazine; Mary Shelley; Now and Then: Poems, 1976-1978 (Book); Poetic narration; Robert Penn Warren; Spiritual; Thomas Hardy; William Wordsworth

Subjects: American literature--20th century; Friendship; Poetry

Partial Transcript: A couple of years, or--you know, time goes by so fast.

Segment Synopsis: Eberhart tells of an instance in which he socialized with Warren more intimately as a guest in the Warren home. These close encounters gave Eberhart a self-proclaimed new perspective on Warren. An instance of Warren's physical appearance (which Eberhart did not notice up until that point) is highlighted. This observation is compared to the physical appearance of William Faulkner as well. An earlier visit with Faulkner is recalled.

Keywords: Anecdotes; As I Lay Dying (Book); Body; Breakfast; Century Association; Driving; Fairfield (Conn.); Hands; Malcolm Cowley; Meticulous; New York (N.Y.); Proofs; Robert Lowell; Robert Penn Warren; Short; Socializing; William Faulkner; Youthful

Subjects: American literature--20th century; Friendship; Life; Travel

Partial Transcript: Um, uh, I think we're about to the end of what I have to say.

Segment Synopsis: Eberhart declares his viewpoints on social class and how it impacts poets. The two different aspects (a poorer childhood versus marrying a wealthy woman) of Warren's socioeconomic background are compared, as well as how these conditions have changed his writing. The structure of American poetry and its pioneers according to Eberhart are examined. Backgrounds of other writers are compared to that of Warren's. Eberhart also talks of his own personal background and the elitism he faced. Warren is found to have common ground with Wordsworth in their emphasis on nature. The exclusive tendencies of the Academy are described as well.

Keywords: Allen Ginsberg; American Academy of Arts and Sciences; Conventions; Elitism; Hart Crane; Nature; Poverty; Power; Presidents; Robert Penn Warren; Social classes; Value; Walt Whitman; Wealth; William Shakespeare; Writing

Subjects: American literature--20th century; Education; Friendship; Poetry; Professors

Partial Transcript: Well, I suppose we ought to draw this to a conclusion.

Segment Synopsis: Eberhart gives his closing remarks on Warren. A specific piece that began their self-proclaimed literary friendship is discussed. Eberhart advises the interviewer how to potentially convert the audio interview into a book.

Keywords: Audio; Books; Brother to Dragons (Book); Interviews; Robert Penn Warren; Thomas Jefferson

Subjects: American literature--20th century; Friendship; Poetry