Charles Reznikoff was born on August 31, 1894, in Brooklyn, New York. His parents were Russian Jews who emigrated to the United States around the time of his birth. His family was forced to move throughout the city due to the anti-Semitism with which they were faced. Reznikoff later wrote about the times he would rush home from high school in order to avoid taunts from other kids. But despite his insecurities, Reznikoff was an excellent student. He finished grammar school three years ahead of his class and graduated from high school at the age of fifteen. By age sixteen, Reznikoff knew he wanted to be a writer. However, he went on to law school and practiced for a brief period before becoming a full-fledged writer. During the 1920s, his poetry began to be published commercially. His reputation grew—resulting in becoming one of the major influences to form the Objectivist group of poets. He died from a heart attack on January 22, 1976.