Lanier, Sidney

Lanier, Sidney (lənēr`), 1842–81, American poet and musician, b. Macon, Ga., grad. Oglethorpe College 1860. His first work, the novel Tiger-Lilies (1867), was based on his experiences as a Confederate soldier in the Civil War. An accomplished musician, Lanier was first flutist of the Peabody Orchestra, Baltimore, in 1873. Following his appointment as lecturer on English literature at Johns Hopkins, his study of the interrelation of music and poetry was published as The Science of English Verse (1880). His Poems appeared in 1887. Lanier's poetry is marked by its melodic verse and extravagant conceits. Among his best-known poems are "Corn," and "The Marshes of Glyn."

Bibliography

See Centennial edition of his works (ed. by C. R. Anderson et al., 10 vol., 1945); biography by A. H. Starke (1933, repr. 1964); studies by J. De Bellis (1972) and J. S. Gabin (1985).

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Lanier, Sidney (1842–81) writer, poet, musician; born in Macon, Ga. He studied at Oglethorpe University, Ga. (1857–60), was a Confederate soldier (1861–65), and contracted tuberculosis while a prisoner of war. He worked as a law clerk, then decided to devote himself to art. He moved to Baltimore where he played the flute for the Peabody Orchestra (1873–81), taught at Johns Hopkins University, and composed poems such as "Corn" and "Symphony" (1875). In addition to his poetry, which was often based on his feeling for music, he published a novel and other books on literature, versification, and music.