H. D. (Hilda Doolittle)

Download PDF Add to Bookshelf Report an Error

Hilda Doolittle, who would later adopt the pen-name H.D., was a strong voice in the development of modernist Anglo-American poetry. Best known as an Imagist poet, H.D. also wrote epic poetry, novels, memoirs, and participated in avant-garde film.

H.D. was born into a Moravian community in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in 1886. Her mother, Helen (Wolle), was artistic and musical, while her father, Charles, was an astronomer who taught at Lehigh University. In 1896, Charles Doolittle was appointed the director of the Flower Observatory at the University of Pennsylvania and the Doolittles and their children – Hilda was the only girl among five boys – moved to the suburb of Upper Darby. These two phases of H.D.’s childhood would prove significant. In The Gift (written 1941-1942), H.D.

2360 words

Citation: Colby, Sasha. "H. D. (Hilda Doolittle)". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 17 May 2011 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=1924, accessed 28 March 2024.]

1924 H. D. (Hilda Doolittle) 1 Historical context notes are intended to give basic and preliminary information on a topic. In some cases they will be expanded into longer entries as the Literary Encyclopedia evolves.

Save this article

If you need to create a new bookshelf to save this article in, please make sure that you are logged in, then go to your 'Account' here

Leave Feedback

The Literary Encyclopedia is a living community of scholars. We welcome comments which will help us improve.