Anne Sexton: A BiographyAnne Sexton began writing poetry at the age of twenty-nine to keep from killing herself. She held on to language for dear life and somehow -- in spite of alcoholism and the mental illness that ultimately led her to suicide -- managed to create a body of work that won a Pulitzer Prize and that still sings to thousands of readers. This exemplary biography, which was nominated for the National Book Award, provoked controversy for its revelations of infidelity and incest and its use of tapes from Sexton's psychiatric sessions. It reconciles the many Anne Sextons: the 1950s housewife; the abused child who became an abusive mother; the seductress; the suicide who carried "kill-me pills" in her handbag the way other women carry lipstick; and the poet who transmuted confession into lasting art. |
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A.S. to Anne A.S. to Dr Anne Sexton Anne Wilder Anne's artist August began Billie Boston C. K. Williams called Clawson College daughter death doctor's files Doctor's notes father February feel felt friends George Starbuck girl Harvey hospital Houghton Mifflin Howard Moss HRHRC Ibid interview with D.M. J. D. McClatchy James Wright January Jon Stallworthy July Kayo Kayo's kind later Legler Letters Linda Sexton live Lois Ames Love Poems Lowell's manuscript Marian Seldes Martin Orne Mary Gray Maryan Maxine Kumin Mercy Street mother Nana Nana's never November October Orne Orne's pills play poet poetry psychiatrist Radcliffe Radcliffe College Ralph recalled remembered restricted collection Robert Lowell September Sexton wrote sexual suicide Sylvia Plath talk therapy tape things thought told Dr took trance trip W. D. Snodgrass week Westwood Lodge woman women writing Zweizung