Born in Minnesota, Robert Bly was raised in a community of Norwegian immigrants. He began his studies at St. Olaf College, but transferred to Harvard, thus beginning his association with many important poets of his generation, including John Ashbery and Donald Hall. He graduated in 1950, and after spending a few years in New York City, studied for two years in the University of Iowa Writers Workshop.

Following his studies in Iowa, Bly received a Fulbright award to Norway to translate Norwegian poetry into English. Thus began Bly’s life as an important translator of poetry in American culture. Upon his return to the United States, he began the literary magazine and publishing house The Fifties (which changed its name depending on the decade), especially dedicated to publishing English translations of European and South American poetry.

Bly won the National Book Award in 1967 for his volume The Light around the Body, and he donated the prize money to the organization, American Writers Against the Vietnam War, which he co-founded. He published prolifically as a poet, translator, and writer of essays and criticism. His book Iron John: A Book about Men spent one year on The New York Times Bestseller List.

–Christie Finn
Source: Poetry Foundation Website