Edwin (E.J.) Pratt | Poet and Author

Edwin John Dove Pratt

Born: February 4, 1882
Died: April 26, 1964
Place of Birth: Western Bay, Newfoundland

Pratt's father was a Newfoundland minister and the family moved occasionally around the province.
He trained to be a minister like his father but he took an interest in psychology and literature.
He preached and taught in several small communities which were to serve as background for his poems.
Pratt moved to Toronto in 1907 and enrolled in Victoria College, a school he was to be linked with until his retirement.
Pratt published his first poem while attending Victoria.
In 1919 he became an Associate of English and was to influence a generation of Victoria students.
Pratt was 40 when he published his first book of poetry, "Newfoundland Verse".
He gained respect as a writer and won the Governor-General's Award for Poetry in 1937, 1940, and 1952.
His later poems demonstrated a deep understanding of human society.
He founded and was the first editor of the Canadian Poetry magazine.
In the 1920's Pratt achieved recognition as one of the best narrative poets in the world.
Included amongst Pratt's awards and honorary doctorates were three Governor-General Awards for Poetry.
Pratt is considered as the most important Canadian poet for the first half of the 20th century.

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