Facts about EE Cummings

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Edward Estlin Cummings, an iconic figure in 20th century’s world of poetry, published author and plastic artist. He often went by E.E. Cummings or with short letters, EE Cummings, reflecting his unique and free way of writing. He is the author of numerous poems, plays also many paintings and illustrations. His complex personality led to some pretty interesting facts regarding EE Cummings as a person and an artist.

Fact 1: The poem “The enormous room” written in 1922, relates his experience in a French camp where he and his fellow partner, all enrolled in an ambulance corp during the first WW, were imprisoned for three months in a concentration camp, despite Cummings’s clearly interest in French army. Sources tell that Cummings had sent some controversial letters home which finally led to his imprisoning.

Fact 2: Cumming’s father died in a horrible car accident, hit by a train. He narrates the shocking and touching story in his opera i: six nonlectures describing terrible details of the disaster. The car was cut in half and although his mother was highly injured she survived. The story says she didn’t let anyone rescue her until someone put a blanket on her husband so she can mourn him in peace, only after that she allowed anyone to touch her.

Fact 3:
As a poem artist, he has an unusual way of writing by never using capital letters, reason for which his name appears as ‘˜ee cummings’. Cumming’s technique raised many controversies among linguistic professionals.

Fact 4: The Icelandic trip hop singer Bjork has adapted already three songs after Cumming’s poems the most recent one being “Sonnets/Unrealities IX” from Medulla album, a song which entirely features Cumming’s poem I may not always be so; and i say”.

Fact 5: The young rebel group Ra Ra Riot also reinterpreted one of their song “Dying is fine” from the album “The Rhumb Line” in 2008 after Cumming’s iconic poem “dying it’s fine)but death”.

Fact 6: EE Cummings graduated from Harvard with a “magna cum laude” honor and was invited to speak at the ceremony, inheriting his father intelligence who happened to graduate the same way.

Fact 7: “CIOPW” is the name of a drawing collection, published in 1931 after an incredible inspirational period. The title of the collection features the materials he used to finish the masterpiece drawings, meaning charcoal, ink, oil, pencils and watercolor.

Fact 8: In 1924 Cummings married Elaine Orr the former wife of a trusted friend and mentor, Scofield Thayer, and had a daughter with her. Nancy was brought into the world while her mother was still married to Thyer. Their marriage lasted only two months after which Elaine ran away with Nancy in Ireland to marry a banker. She strictly banned Cummings from seeing his daughter.

Fact 9: Nancy never knew her real father until 1946 when she moved back to US. Cummings managed to get an appointment with her and while he was painting her portrait he revealed the truth. Although Nancy was shocked at first they eventually developed a warm relationship.

Fact 10:
Cummings loved Paris and considered it as his second home. He lived a long period of time in the romantic city and returned for many occasions. During his stay between 1920 -1930 he had the chance to meet with Pablo Picasso, a strong reference in plastic arts.

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