Diane Di Prima(1934-2020)
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Undeniably the most well-known female Beat poet, Diane di Prima was
born in Brooklyn, a second-generation American of Italian descent, and
granddaughter of Domenico Mallozzi, a well-known anarchist. She began
her life as a poet at age 14. She attended Swarthmore College, later
moving to Greenwich Village to become part of the Bohemian intellectual
culture: well-educated, white, middle-class individuals who led
rebellious lifestyles, including sexual freedom and the use of drugs.
Di Prima began a correspondence with the poet Ezra Pound, and became
known as an important writer of the Beat movement. She co-founded the
New York Poets Theatre and founded the Poets Press, which published the
work of many new writers of the period. She also joined Timothy Leary's
psychedelic community in the late 60s. Di Prima is the author of 35
books of poetry and prose. Her work has been translated into over 20
languages. She has received writing grants from the National Endowment
for the Arts, an Award for Lifetime Achievement in Poetry from the
National Poetry Association, and an honorary doctorate from St.
Lawrence University. She was also nominated to be the first Poet
Laureate of California. She has taught poetry and spirituality courses
at New College of California, California College of Arts and Crafts,
and the San Francisco Art Institute. She has lived in San Francisco
since 1968.