Edgar Albert Guest

Edgar Albert Guest, born in 1881 and passing away in 1959, stands out as a prolific and treasured American poet celebrated for his inspirational and motivational verses. Originally from Birmingham, England, Guest and his family relocated to the United States when he was quite young. Starting as a newspaper reporter, he later became a distinguished poet, composing an impressive collection of over 11,000 poems that frequently struck a chord with the everyday struggles and aspirations of common people.

His poetry, though simple, exuded genuine, heartfelt sentiments, exploring themes like family, optimism, and the indomitable human spirit. Edgar Guest emerged as an esteemed figure in American literature during the early 20th century. His work graced the pages of newspapers and magazines, and he even hosted his radio program. His enduring legacy is rooted in his remarkable ability to inspire and uplift readers through his accessible and relatable verses.

Early Life

Edgar Guest came into the world on August 20, 1881, in Birmingham, England, as the child of Edwin and Julia Wayne Guest. In 1891, the family settled in Detroit, Michigan. A turning point occurred in 1893 when Edwin lost his job, prompting eleven-year-old Edgar to take on various part-time jobs after school. Two years later, in 1895, he secured employment as a copyboy at the Detroit Free Press, where he would devote nearly sixty-five years of his life. Tragically, at the age of seventeen, Guest's father passed away, necessitating his departure from high school to work full-time at the newspaper. He steadily advanced from his initial role as a copyboy to a position within the newspaper's news department.

Career

After starting as a copyboy and then becoming a reporter at the Detroit Free Press, Edgar Guest had his first poem published on December 11, 1898. He became a U.S. citizen in 1902. For 40 years, Guest was widely read in North America, and his heartwarming and positive poems were similar to the light-hearted writings of Nick Kenny, who also wrote during the same time.

From his very first work in the Detroit Free Press until his passing in 1959, Guest wrote around 11,000 poems that were printed in about 300 newspapers and gathered into more than 20 books, including "A Heap o' Livin'" (1916) and "Just Folks" (1923-1957). Guest was named the Poet Laureate of Michigan, a special title given to a poet.

His popularity led to a weekly radio show in Detroit, which he hosted from 1931 to 1942. Later, in 1951, he had a T.V. show on N.B.C. called "A Guest in Your House." He also had a radio program that aired three times a week, starting on January 15, 1941, and was sponsored by Land O'Lakes Creameries. The program featured a singer named Eddy Howard.

In Detroit, Guest became a Freemason and was a lifelong member of Ashlar Lodge No. 91. In recognition of Guest's commitment to the Freemasons, the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Michigan created the Edgar A. Guest Award for lodges to give to non-Masons in the community who had shown exceptional service to the community and its people.

Guest was also a member of a group called The Tin Whistles. When Guest passed away in 1959, he was buried in Detroit's Woodlawn Cemetery. His grandniece Judith Guest is a novelist, best known for writing "Ordinary People" in 1976.

Memorable Work

Even today, some of Guest's poems can be found in magazines like Reader's Digest, and a few of his popular ones, such as "Myself" and "Thanksgiving," are still read and studied. However, there's a famous quote attributed to Dorothy Parker, who once said, "I'd prefer to fail my Wassermann test than read a poem by Edgar Guest." This quote is often cited as a humorous way of expressing her strong dislike for his poems.

In Popular Culture

• Edith Bunker, a character from the T.V. show All in the Family, liked Edgar Guest's poems and mentioned him in some episodes, including one called "Prisoner in the House" from 1975.
• In a book called The Grim Grotto from the series, A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket, the character Klaus Baudelaire talks about how he had to choose between doing the dishes or reading guests' poetry. The bad crew on Count Olaf's submarine wore badges with Guest's face, while the good guys had badges with Herman Melville's face. The author of the book didn't like Guest's writing and preferred Melville.
• In the novel I Am Legend, the main character, Robert Neville, jokingly says he's the last man in the world and compares himself to Edgar Guest.
• Idris Elba recited Guest's poem "It Couldn't Be Done" during a B.B.C. sports event celebrating Team G.B. and Paralympics G.B. winning an award.
• Guest's poem "The Epicure" was featured in a magazine called Mad with new illustrations.
• Chrysler and Audi used Guest's poem "It Couldn't Be Done" in their commercials.
• Tracey Gold read Guest's poem "A Child of Mine" at Judith Barsi's funeral.
• A comedian named Benny Hill made a parody of Guest's poem "It Couldn't Be Done" called "They Said That It Couldn't Be Done."
• J.I.D. was inspired by Guest's poem "Equipment" when creating his single "Skeegee."

Death

On August 5, 1959, Edgar Albert Guest died at 77 in Detroit, Michigan, where he lived most of his life. His passing marked the end of a successful career as a much-loved American poet who wrote many inspiring and relatable poems. Even after he passed away, his poems still positively impacted people, leaving behind a legacy of hope and motivation through his heartfelt words. His writings are an important and cherished part of American literature.

Conclusion

Edgar Albert Guest's life, from 1881 to 1959, was marked by a remarkable career as an American poet. He authored numerous uplifting and relatable poems that continue inspiring and enduring, solidifying his place as a beloved figure in American literary history.