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Gary Snyder - Biography

Sheridan Snyder was born on May 8, 1930 in San Francisco, California, USA. He grew up in the vicinity of San Francisco and has developed an interest in nature, poetry and eastern philosophy since childhood. These hobbies shaped his future career and philosophical vision of the world.

Snyder attended various schools and colleges, but his true education began when he met the teacher and poet Kenneth Rexroth, who became his mentor and taught him to write poetry. This meeting was key to Gary's formation as a poet.

In 1950, he entered a number of important universities, including Reed College and the University of California at Berkeley. He also spent several years in Japan, where he immersed himself in the study of Buddhism and Eastern culture, which had a profound influence on his later philosophy.

Gary became known as a member of the San Francisco Renaissance School of Poetry, a group of poets and writers who actively influenced American literature in the second half of the 20th century. His poems were deeply permeated by nature, ecological motifs and spiritual reflection.

One of Snyder's most famous poems, Prayer for the Great Family, became a symbol of his ecological philosophy and a request for the protection of nature and the entire living planet. In his poems and essays, he often addressed issues of ecology, social justice and spirituality.

Gary was a passionate environmentalist and conservation activist. He spent a lot of time in the wild studying ecosystems and conservation. His experience climbing mountains and communicating with nature influenced his literary and philosophical work.