Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez | |
---|---|
Born | London, England | 5 August 1929
Died | 23 September 2019 | (aged 90)
Occupation |
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Period | 1956–2019 |
Alfred Alvarez (5 August 1929 – 23 September 2019) was an English poet, novelist, essayist and critic who published under the name A. Alvarez and Al Alvarez.
Background
Alfred Alvarez was born in London, to an
Alvarez was the author of many non-fiction books. His renowned study of suicide, The Savage God, gained added resonance from his friendship with Plath. He also wrote on divorce (Life After Marriage), dreams (Night), and the oil industry (Offshore), as well as his hobbies of poker (
His 1962 poetry anthology
Film and TV
In July 1989 Alvarez made an extended appearance on the Channel 4 discussion programme After Dark to discuss gambling alongside, among others, Victor Lownes and David Berglas. Alvarez was portrayed by Jared Harris in the 2003 film Sylvia, which chronicles the troubled relationship between Plath and her husband Ted Hughes.
Death
He died at the age of 90 from viral pneumonia. He was survived by his second wife, Anne, and by their children, Luke and Kate. Another son, Adam, from his first marriage, with Frieda Lawrence's granddaughter, Ursula Barr, predeceased him.[2] He is buried in Hampstead Cemetery.
Legacy
In 1990 the British Library acquired Alvarez's archive consisting of correspondence, and papers relating to his poetry, prose publications and scripts for stage, film, radio and television.[3]
Selected works
- The Shaping Spirit (1958)
- The School of Donne (1961)
- The New Poetry (1962)
- Under Pressure (1965)
- Beyond All This Fiddle (1968)
- The Savage God (1972)
- Beckett (Fontana Modern Masters, 1973)
- Hers (1974)
- Hunt (1979)
- Life After Marriage (1982)
- The Biggest Game in Town (1983)
- Feeding the Rat (1988)
- Day of Atonement (1991)
- Night (1995)
- Where Did It All Go Right? (1999)
- Poker: Bets, Bluffs, and Bad Beats (2001)
- New & Selected Poems (2002)
- The Writer's Voice (2005)
- Risky Business (2007)
- Pondlife (2013)
See also
References
- ^ "The Benson Medal". The Royal Society of Literature. Archived from the original on 5 April 2010.
- ^ Sutherland, John (23 September 2019). "Al Alvarez obituary". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 24 September 2019.
- ^ Alvarez Papers, archives and manuscripts catalogue, the British Library. Retrieved 27 May 2020