Poet W. D. Snodgrass
Well-known American poet and Pullitzer prize winner W. D. Snodgrass produced one of the most celebrated versions of the Romanian pastoral ballad Miorita.
Cristina Mateescu, 31.10.2025, 14:00
Miorita is the iconic Romanian pastoral ballad. Since it was first published in mid 19th century, it has come to be regarded as a symbol of the Romanian soul. One of the most celebrated English versions of the ballad belongs to American poet and Pullitzer prize winner W. D. Snodgrass.
Passionate about traditional folklore from various parts of Europe, Snodgrass also visited Romania in search for folk songs and ballads. In an interview to Radio Bucharest dating from one of his trips to the country in the 1970s, he speaks about Miorita and his impressions of Romania.
In the following years, Snodgrass went on to translate more Romanian folklore, with a book published in 1993 in Romania containing his English versions of five ballads.
