Louis Simpson published more than eighteen books of original poetry, including Voices in the Distance: Selected Poems (Bloodaxe Books, 2010), Struggling Times (BOA Editions, 2009), The Owner of the House: New Collected Poems, 1940-2001 (2003), which was a finalist for both the National Book Award in Poetry and the Griffin International Poetry Prize, Nombres et poussière, Adventures of the Letter I (1971), and Selected Poems (1965).

Amongst his many other honors are the Prix de Rome, fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, and the Medal for Excellence from Columbia University. He died in 2012.