Title: Savage Beauty: The Life of Edna St. Vincent Millay
Author: Nancy Milford
First published January 1, 2001
576 pages, Kindle Edition
Rating: 3.91
Overview
Nancy Milford’s Savage Beauty: The Life of Edna St. Vincent Millay is a captivating biography that delves into the life of the most famous poet of the Jazz Age. Known for her unconventional behavior, Millay became the embodiment of the New Woman, captivating the nation with her smoking in public and taking lovers of both genders.
Milford paints a passionate and fearless picture of this American original, whose tumultuous life was even more dramatic than her art. Thirty years after her landmark biography of Zelda Fitzgerald, Milford returns with an iconic portrait of a woman who obsessed America even as she tormented herself.
Chosen as one of the top ten books of the year, this biography is a triumph in the art of storytelling.
About the Author
Meet Nancy Lee Winston Milford, a celebrated American biographer. Born in Dearborn, Michigan, she graduated with a B.A. from the University of Michigan in 1959.
Later, she pursued higher education at Columbia University, where she earned an M.A. in 1964 and a Ph.D. in 1972. During her doctoral studies, she focused on the life and work of Zelda Fitzgerald, the wife of famous author F.
Scott Fitzgerald.
Milford’s most noteworthy achievement is her book about Zelda Fitzgerald, which became a finalist for both the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award. The book spent 29 weeks on the best-seller list and has since been translated into 17 languages.
Her work has left a lasting impact on the literary world, making her a respected figure in the field of biography.
Editoral Review
“Nancy Milford’s Savage Beauty: The Life of Edna St. Vincent Millay is a mesmerizing tale that delves into the life of one of America’s most celebrated and controversial poets. Milford’s biographical work is a vivid exploration of Millay’s remarkable story, from her tumultuous upbringing in rural Maine to her meteoric rise to literary stardom in the Jazz Age.
Savage Beauty takes readers through the highs and lows of Millay’s fascinating life, offering a deeply nuanced portrait of a woman who defied convention and challenged societal norms with her fiercely independent spirit and unabashedly sensual poetry. Milford masterfully weaves together Millay’s personal and professional struggles, from her complex relationships with family, friends, and lovers to her battles with addiction and mental illness.
Additionally, Milford contextualizes Millay’s work within the broader cultural and historical landscape, illuminating the ways in which Millay’s writing gave voice to the anxieties and aspirations of her generation. At its heart, Savage Beauty is a celebration of Millay’s enduring legacy and a poignant meditation on the nature of art and identity.
Milford’s prose evokes the beauty and complexity of Millay’s poetry, infusing the book with a luminous energy that propels the story forward. Her meticulous research and thoughtful analysis provide a compelling insight into the life of a literary icon and the broader cultural movements that defined her era.
While some readers may find Milford’s detailed examination of Millay’s life to be slow-paced, the sheer depth and complexity of the book are testaments to Milford’s passion for her subject matter. Overall, Savage Beauty is a stirring tribute to a towering figure in American literature and a must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of art, society, and the human experience.”
Rating: 4.5/5 stars.
Despite its slow pace, Savage Beauty immerses readers in Millay’s world and leaves a lasting impact. Highly recommended for poetry-lovers and anyone looking for a nuanced and thought-provoking biography.
