What Lips My Lips Have Kissed: The Loves and Love Poems of Edna St. Vincent Millay
by Daniel Mark Epstein
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A noted biographer and poet illuminates the unique woman who wrote the greatest American love poetry of the twentieth centuryWhat Lips My Lips Have Kissed is the story of a rare sort of American genius, who grew up in grinding poverty in Camden, Maine. Nothing could save the sensitive child but her talent for words, music and drama, and an inexorable desire to be loved. When she was twenty, her poetry would make her famous; at thirty she would be loved by readers the world over.Edna St. show more Vincent Millay was widely considered to be the most seductive woman of her age. Few men could resist her, and many women also fell under her spell. From the publication of her first poems until the scandal over Fatal Interview twenty years later, gossip about the poet's liberated lifestyle prompted speculation about who might be the real subject of her verses.Using letters, diaries and journals of the poet and her lovers that have only recently become available, Daniel Mark Epstein tells the astonishing story of the life, dedicated to art and love, that inspired the sublime lyrics of Edna St. Vincent Millay. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
This is a riveting biography of the American poet Edna St. Vincent Millay, following her life from her birth to her death, but focusing a great deal of her various love affairs and how these translated to her famous love poems. The author is very good at sticking to facts and not editorializing his own thoughts on how the poet felt or thought at a particular moment in time. (This is something I hate in biographies). Nevertheless, the account is still fascinating, as Millay lived a very tumultuous and interesting life. Interspersed with quotes from Millay's diaries, correspondence, and poetry, the narrative is never dry. I would highly recommend, even if you aren't already a fan of Millay. Who knows, maybe after reading snippets of her show more poetry here, you will be inspired to read some more of her work. show less
Great biography. I am reading it as a companion to the other bio of Millay published the same year, Savage Beauty, by Nancy Milford. The two books use many of the same source material. Milford's is a longer bio and more detailed, but Epstein's is more well-written. I love both books. Someone who loves details and isn't distracted by lengthy block-quotes will appreciate Milford's book (which has the added benefit of information from personal interviews with Millay's sister Norma before her death in 1986); others will enjoy Epstein's book better for its relatively shorter length and insightful summaries of his research. Milford is an excellent researcher, Epstein is a better writer. rwj.
Excellent bio of this wonderful, feisty, tragic poet ... LOVED IT!
Out of all the biographies read on Edna St Vincent Millay, this one has to be my least favorite.
This a great book well researched and authentic
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Author Information
19+ Works 1,414 Members
Daniel Mark Epstein is an award-winning essayist, poet, playwright, translator, biographer, and musician. He's won the Prix de Rome, received a Guggenheim Fellowship, and been anthologized in several collections of essays and poetry. His books include biographies of Aimee Semple McPherson and Nat King Cole, and seven volumes of poetry. He lives in show more Baltimore, Maryland. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Common Knowledge
- Original publication date
- 2001
- People/Characters
- Edna St. Vincent Millay
Classifications
- Genres
- Literature Studies and Criticism, Biography & Memoir, Poetry, Fiction and Literature
- DDC/MDS
- 811.52 — Literature & rhetoric American literature in English American poetry 20th Century 1900-1945
- LCC
- PS3525 .I495 .Z636 — Language and Literature American literature American literature Individual authors 1900-1960
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 214
- Popularity
- 152,226
- Reviews
- 5
- Rating
- (4.12)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 3
- ASINs
- 2
