Max Ehrmann (September 26, 1872 – September 9, 1945) was an American writer, poet, and attorney from Terre Haute, Indiana, widely known for his 1927 prose poem "Desiderata" (Latin: "things desired"). He often wrote on spiritual themes.

Education

Ehrmann was of German descent; both his parents emigrated from Bavaria to the United States in the 1840s. Young Ehrmann was educated at the Terre Haute Fourth District School and the German Methodist Church.

He received a degree in English from DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, which he attended from 1890 to 1894. While there, he was a member of Delta Tau Delta's Beta Beta chapter and was editor of the school newspaper, Depauw Weekly. At age 40, Ehrmann left the business to write. At age 55, he wrote Desiderata, which achieved fame only after his death.

Legacy

Ehrmann was awarded Doctor of Letters honorary degree from DePauw University in about 1937. He was also elected to the Delta Tau Delta Distinguished Service Chapter, the fraternity's highest alumni award. Art Spaces also holds an annual Max Ehrmann Poetry Competition.

Bibliography

  • Max Ehrmann (1898). A Farrago Cooperative publishing co. Cambridge Mass
  • Max Ehrmann (1900). The Mystery of Madeline le Blanc Cooperative publishing co. Cambridge Mass
  • Max Ehrmann (1901). A Fearsome Riddle Bowen-Merrill Co., Indianapolis
  • Max Ehrmann (1904). Breaking Home Ties Dodge Publishing Co. New York
  • Max Ehrmann (1906). A Prayer and Selections New York
  • Max Ehrmann (1906). Max Ehrmann's Poems Viquesney Publishing Co
  • Max Ehrmann (1907). Who Entereth Here Dodge Publishing Co.
  • Max Ehrmann (1910). The Poems of Max Ehrmann Dodge Publishing Co. New York
  • Max Ehrmann (1911). The Wife of Marobius and Other Plays Mitchell Kennerley, New York
  • Max Ehrmann (1912). Fort Harrison on the Banks of the Wabash, 1812–1912 (contributor) by Fort Harrison Centennial Association
  • Max Ehrmann (1912). Eugene V. Debs, what his neighbors and others say of Him (contributor) Edited by James H. Hollingsworth
  • Max Ehrmann (1915). Jesus: A Passion Play Baker & Taylor Co. New York
  • Max Ehrmann (1915). In Memoriam Elbert and Alice Hubbard (contributor) Ed. Elbert Hubbard Jr., The Roycrofters, East Aurora, Erie County, New York
  • Max Ehrmann (1916). An Invitation to You and your Folks from Jim and Some of the Home Folk (contributor) Compiled by George Ade, Bobbs-Merrill Co.
  • Max Ehrmann (1917). David and Bathsheba The Drama vol. 7 Edited by Vandervort Sloan
  • Max Ehrmann (1922). A Virgin's Dream and Other Verses of Scarlet Women Henry J Fuller
  • Max Ehrmann (1922). The Bank Robbery in A Book of One Act Plays edited by Barbara Louise Schafter
  • Max Ehrmann (1924). Paul Dresser: Composer of 'On the Banks of the Wabash' A Sketch Paul Dresser Memorial Assoc. Terre Haute
  • Max Ehrmann (1925). The Gay Life Indiana Publishing Co. Terre Haute (Scarlet woman series)
  • Max Ehrmann (1925). A Goose with a Rose in Her Mouth Indiana Publishing Co. Terre Haute (Scarlet woman series)
  • Max Ehrmann (1925). His Beautiful Wife and Other Stories Indiana Publishing Co. Terre Haute (Scarlet woman series)
  • Max Ehrmann (1925). Scarlet Sketches Indiana Publishing Co. Terre Haute (Scarlet woman series)
  • Max Ehrmann (1925). Be Quiet, I'm Talking, Being Conversations ed. Edna Smith, Indiana Publishing Co. Terre Haute (Scarlet woman series)
  • Max Ehrmann (1926). Love From Many Angles Haldeman-Julius Co., Girard, Kansas (Little Blue Book No. 1113)
  • Max Ehrmann (1927). Book of Farces: The Bank Robbery; The Plumber Indiana Publishing Co. Terre Haute
  • Max Ehrmann (1934). Worldly Wisdom: Being the Wisdom of Jesus Sirach Girard, Kansas: Haldeman-Julius Company (Little Blue Book No. 1735)
  • Max Ehrmann (before 1938). The Plumber