Donald Hall

Donald Andrew Hall Jr. was an American poet, writer, editor, and literary critic. He was the author of more than 50 books across multiple genres, including children's literature, biography, memoirs, essays, plays, and sports journalism. He is regarded as a "plainspoken, rural poet" whose work explores the longing for a more bucolic past and reflects an abiding reverence for nature. Hall taught at Stanford University, Bennington College, and the University of Michigan, and made significant contributions to the study and craft of writing. He served as Poet Laureate of New Hampshire and later as the United States Poet Laureate. His later works, particularly following the death of his second wife, Jane Kenyon, reflect a deep engagement with grief and memory. He continued to publish and teach until his passing in 2018 at the age of 89.