Few poets can be said to occupy a more secure position in the literary history of their countries than that held by E. J. Pratt. Often hailed in his own lifetime as Canada's unofficial poet laureate, Pratt has become, since his death in 1964, the subject of a thriving critical industry. Recent critics have stressed Pratt's significant role in the development of modernism in Canada and have taken note of the subtlety and complexity of his verse and the wide range of his learning, qualities rarely observed by his contemporaries. Though Pratt's image patterns draw heavily upon his intimate knowledge of the sea and reflect his Newfoundland heritage, his themes are not rooted in solely local concerns but reach out to embrace the struggles of men everywhere and at all times.

Edwin John ("Ned") Pratt was born on 4 February 1882 in the small fishing village of Western Bay, Newfoundland. His...