Edna St. Vincent Millay
Overview
Edna St. Vincent Millay was an American lyrical poet
, playwright and feminist. She received the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry
, and was known for her activism and her many love affairs. She used the pseudonym Nancy Boyd for her prose work. The poet Richard Wilbur
asserted, "She wrote some of the best sonnets of the century."
Millay was born in Rockland, Maine
to Cora Lounella, a nurse, and Henry Tollman Millay, a schoolteacher who would later become superintendent of schools.
Lyric poetry
Lyric poetry is a genre of poetry that expresses personal and emotional feelings. In the ancient world, lyric poems were those which were sung to the lyre. Lyric poems do not have to rhyme, and today do not need to be set to music or a beat...
, playwright and feminist. She received the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry
Pulitzer Prize for Poetry
The Pulitzer Prize in Poetry has been presented since 1922 for a distinguished volume of original verse by an American author. However, special citations for poetry were presented in 1918 and 1919.-Winners:...
, and was known for her activism and her many love affairs. She used the pseudonym Nancy Boyd for her prose work. The poet Richard Wilbur
Richard Wilbur
Richard Purdy Wilbur is an American poet and literary translator. He was appointed the second Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress in 1987, and twice received the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry, in 1957 and again in 1989....
asserted, "She wrote some of the best sonnets of the century."
Millay was born in Rockland, Maine
Rockland, Maine
Rockland is a city in Knox County, Maine, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 7,297. It is the county seat of Knox County. The city is a popular tourist destination...
to Cora Lounella, a nurse, and Henry Tollman Millay, a schoolteacher who would later become superintendent of schools.
