This book reveals, for the first time, the story behind the writing of ‘Desiderata’. Beloved by millions, the poem was first published in 1927, but its true origins, along with the life of its author, have largely been lost to literary history. This account by actor and author Tim Dalgleish includes not only the story of ‘Desiderata’ but two additional, previously unpublished, chapters from a forthcoming biography of Max Ehrmann. This new material helps bring Max Ehrmann, the author of 'Desiderata', out of the shadows.

An underground classic, ‘Desiderata’ first gained wide popularity as ‘the peace poem’ during the counter-culture years of the 1960s. It was pinned to the walls of thousands of students across America and then the 1972 Les Crane recording of the poem sold millions. Sylvia Plath thought ‘Desiderata’ ‘milk-and-honey to [the] weary spirit’, it helped sustain Morgan Freeman in the early years of his career, Richard Burton, Joan Crawford, Bing Crosby, Leonard Nimoy, Ali McGraw, Tom Hiddleston, recorded inspirational versions, Johnny Depp’s back is even tattooed with it in ‘Pirates of the Caribbean.’

‘Desiderata’ has been endlessly anthologized, and used by columnists, psychologists, therapists, lifestyle gurus, political, business and religious leaders, sports personalities and artists. It has appeared in myriad cultural arenas: Ellen Terry’s dressing room; Adlai Stevenson’s deathbed; the only recording of Jack London’s voice is his reading ‘Desiderata’; the controversial Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh made it his spiritual guide, while National Lampoon parodied it! Pope John Paul II, Gene Roddenberry and Reggie Kray loved it.

Now a part of world culture, Max Ehrmann deserves a place in the ‘Golden Age of Indiana Literature’ that his friends, Theodore Dreiser, Booth Tarkington, James Whitcomb Riley, Lew Wallace and Gene Stratton Porter secured. This book is part of a campaign to elevate and restore this author's rightful place in American literary history.