Stephen Vincent Benét

Stephen Vincent Benét was born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in 1898 and grew up in a military family, which fostered his deep interest in American history. He published his first book of poetry at age 17 and earned a master's degree from Yale. His most celebrated work, the book-length narrative poem John Brown's Body (1928), won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry and vividly chronicles the Civil War through a mosaic of characters and voices. Benét also wrote acclaimed short stories, including "The Devil and Daniel Webster," which blends folklore with patriotic themes. During World War II, he produced patriotic radio scripts and poems. He died of a heart attack in 1943 at age 44. Benét's legacy endures as a master of narrative verse who captured the American spirit and historical imagination.