E. J. Pratt, ca. 1930.
Edwin John Pratt (1882-1964) was born in Western Bay, Conception Bay. After leaving the province in 1907 to attend the University of Toronto, he published his first volume of poetry, Newfoundland Verse, in 1923. His writing career flourished and over the next 30 years he published some 13 volumes of poetry in addition to other works. Pratt became one of Canada's most prominent literary figures by the 1940s. He received three Governor-General's medals for poetry. Pratt is generally considered to be the premier Canadian poet of the first half of the 20th century.

From David G. Pitt, E. J. Pratt: The Master Years 1927-1964, vol. 2 (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, ©1987). Courtesy of the M. Claire Pratt Estate.