W. H. Auden Residence
New York, Kings County, New York
Marker Inscription
W. H. Auden poet (1907-1973) lived in Brooklyn Heights from 1939 to 1941, from 1939 to 1940 on the top floor of this house, where he wrote "New Year Letter." "And love illuminates again the city and the lion's den, the world's great rage, the travel of young men."
Erected by W. H. Auden Society
The Story
The poet W. H. Auden, who had just emigrated from England, lived in Brooklyn Heights from 1939 to 1941, spending his first year on the top floor of this house. Here he wrote "New Year Letter," one of the major works of his early American period. The lines quoted on the marker — of love illuminating the city and "the travel of young men" — capture the searching mood of a writer beginning life anew in America.
Why it matters
Auden's Brooklyn years mark the American chapter of one of the twentieth century's foremost poets, part of the great transatlantic literary migration on the eve of World War II.
Plan your visit
NearbyMake a day of it — museums, food, and places to stay near this marker.
Museums & culture
- Small Editions0.8 mi away · 60 Sackett Street, Brooklyn, NY
- South Street Seaport Museum0.8 mi away · 12 Fulton Street
- Commanding Officer's Quarters0.9 mi away · 1 Barry Road
- Fraunces Tavern Museum0.9 mi away · 54 Pearl Street, New York, NY
- Museum of American Finance1.0 mi away
- The Trust for Governors Island1.0 mi away
Attractions
- Brooklyn Heights Promenadenearby
- Brooklyn Heights Promenade0.2 mi away
- Kayak Brooklyn0.3 mi away
- Brooklyn Flea0.6 mi away
- Brooklyn Bridge0.7 mi away
- Ambrose0.7 mi away
Food & drink
- Ellis Island Cafe2.2 mi away
- Bluestone Lane2.3 mi away
- Yaso2.3 mi away · 30 Hudson Street, Jersey City, NJ
- Maman2.3 mi away
- Krispy Pizza2.3 mi away · 33 Hudson Street, Jersey City, NJ
- Sweetgreen2.4 mi away
Places to stay
- Casa Cipriani New York0.9 mi away · 10 South Street, New York, NY
- Hyatt Centric0.9 mi away · 75 Wall Street, New York, NY
- Holiday Inn Express0.9 mi away · 126 Water Street, New York, NY
- Hotel Indigo0.9 mi away · 120 Water Street, New York, NY
- The Wall Street Hotel0.9 mi away · 88 Wall Street, New York, NY
- Wall Street Inn0.9 mi away · 9 South William Street, New York, NY
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Related people
- · W. H. Auden
Themes & tags
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