James Laughlin

James Laughlin IV was an American poet and literary book publisher. He founded New Directions Publishing in 1936. He studied Latin at Choate School and graduated from Lawrenceville School in 1929 and from Harvard in 1933.

New Directions Publishing is an independent publishing house that was founded in 1936. It is known for publishing innovative and experimental works of literature, poetry, and drama. The press has published works by many well-known authors, including Ezra Pound, Tennessee Williams, and William Carlos Williams.

James Laughlin was the founder and publisher of New Directions Publishing. He dedicated his life to discovering and promoting new and under-recognized writers. He was instrumental in introducing works of major European and Latin American writers to the American public.

James Laughlin was primarily known as a publisher, but he was also a poet. Some of his notable works include "The Man in the Wall" (1947) and "The Owl of Minerva" (1996). He published several collections of poetry throughout his life, often under his own publishing imprint, called "Jargon Society."

James Laughlin had a profound impact on American literature. As the founder and publisher of New Directions Publishing, he championed the works of many groundbreaking writers, helping to introduce and popularize the work of authors such as Henry Miller, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, and Jack Kerouac. His dedication to publishing innovative and experimental literature helped shape the literary landscape of the 20th century.