Oppen, George

Oppen, George

(1908–84) poet; born in New Rochelle, N.Y. Educated in public schools in California, he was a founder of the objectivist poetry style and established small printing presses in Paris (1930–33) and New York (1934–36). A Communist, he was investigated by the U.S. government, so he moved to Mexico City (1950); he later settled in San Francisco (1958). He continued to write poetry until he was stricken by Alzheimer's disease.