An American author, poet, Journalist, and critic, he is known for his 1929 poetry collection, Blue Juniata, and for his 1934 work, Exile's Return. His later works include The Dream of Golden Mountains and the U.S. National Book Award-winning memoir, And I Worked.
He was part of the American Field Service during World War I and served as a Western Front reporter for the Pittsburgh Gazette.
He worked for the American Office of Facts and Figures in the early 1940s but resigned following accusations of Communist ties.
He wed Peggy Baird, an Artist, and later divorced her; later, he married and had a son with Muriel Maurer.
He edited works by author william Faulkner and played a large role in reviving Faulkner's literary reputation.
