Iris, Scharmel (1889-1967) Also known as: Scaramella, Frederico

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Announcement of Lyrics of a Lad by Scharmel Iris, 1914

Jane Addams to Harriet Monroe, January 20, 1913

William Dean Howells to Jane Addams, November 20, 1914

Henry Allen Moe to Jane Addams, December 29, 1925

William Dean Howells to Scharmel Iris, January 24, 1914

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Birth Date

1889

Death Date

1967

Birthplace

Castelcivita, Italy

Biographical Text

Scharmel Iris was an Italian-American poet. Born Frederico Scaramella, he arrived in the United States when he was three years old. His first poem was published in 1905. Iris was a known con-artist, using plagiary and forgery to push his poems into the spotlight. He wrote letters about himself under the pseudonym Vincent Holme to publishers and patrons in order to gain support and funds. He claimed to be close to T.S. Eliot, W.B. Yeats, Salvatore Dali, and Picasso. Iris's work appeared in issues of Poetry magazine and his own publications. He lived at Lewis College, though he did not teach or work there until he was asked to leave in 1966.

Iris died in 1967.