With energy and persistance, the minor Chicago poet insinuated himself among the great and famous and simulated a life of literary stardom.

Driven by ambition and narcissism, he began publishing poetry in 1905, participated in the Chicago Renaissance, and continued publishing until two years before his death in 1967. Examining Iris' grandiose fantasy, Craig Abbott exposes his forgery, plagiarism, and imposture.Īs a child, Iris had emigrated from Italy with his mother, who arrived in Chicago in pursuit of the American dream. Yeats, to one of Iris's volumes of poetry-although at the time of publication Yeats had been dead for several years. 'Of poets writing today, there is no greater,' states a preface, signed by W.

Eliot, Robert Frost, Joyce Kilmer, Ezra Pound, Dame Edith Sitwell, Diego Rivera, Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, Winston Churchill, Theodore Roosevelt, Eleanor Roosevelt, William Wrigley, and Woodrow Wilson.

Poet, plagiarist, imposter, and forger, Iris engaged in a lifelong campaign of self-promotion that linked him to a constellation of leading writers and public figures, among them T.S. Mark Green 4.If poets are 'liars by profession,' Sharmel Iris was truly professional. These four contestants from previous seasons, each chosen by one of the four judges, were invited to compete again. This episode featured contestants eliminated from previous episodes returning for a chance at redemption. (using junkyard-salvaged steel and a coal forge) (using metal from construction equipment) (using high carbon steel and forge hammers)

These four contestants from previous seasons were invited to compete again based on fans' reaction to their initial performance. The winner received an additional $10,000 and the title 'Champion of Champions'. These four contestants, all champions from previous seasons, were invited to compete again. (using high carbon steel and wrought iron) A contestant's name preceded by the numeral 1 signifies the winner.Ī contestant's name preceded by the numeral 2 signifies 2nd place.Ī contestant's name preceded by the numeral 3 signifies 3rd place.Ī contestant's name preceded by the numeral 4 signifies 4th place.Ī contestant's name preceded by the numeral 5 signifies 5th place.Ī contestant's name preceded by the numeral 6 signifies 6th place.Ī contestant's name preceded by the numeral 7 signifies 7th place.Ī contestant's name inside angled brackets ( ) denotes that person being medically released.

Forging Fame by Craig Abbott