An indispensable collection of the groundbreaking poet’s most masterful and innovative work, celebrating a bold early voice of female liberation, independence, and queer sexuality—featuring a new introduction by poet Olivia Gatwood, author of Life of the Party Edna St. Vincent Millay defined a generation as one of the most critically acclaimed poets of the Modernist era. Her work pushed boundaries within the literary canon for its lyrical expression of female embodiment and progressive feminist politics, and she was honored as only the third woman to be awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry. The Selected Poetry of Edna St. Vincent Millay demonstrates Millay’s legacy and influence on contemporary poetry. Sometimes satirical, often sharp, and always striking, the poems in this collection span Millay’s remarkable career, from the success of Renascence and Other Poems to the sting of A Few Figs from Thistles, and Second April, as well as “The Ballad of the Harp-Weaver” and eight sonnets from the early twenties. Millay’s incandescent poetry continues to inspire today as broadly and deeply as during her lifetime. The Modern Library Torchbearers series features women who wrote on their own terms, with boldness, creativity, and a spirit of resistance. AMERICAN INDIAN STORIES • THE AWAKENING • THE CUSTOM OF THE COUNTRY • THE HEADS OF CERBERUS • LADY AUDLEY’S SECRET • LOVE, ANGER, MADNESS • PASSING • THE TRANSFORMATION OF PHILIP JETTAN • VILLETTE • THERE IS CONFUSION • THE SELECTED POEMS OF EDNA ST. VINCENT MILLAY

A treasure for Edna St. Vincent Millay fans — and anyone who loves poetry. The collection includes the complete selection of poems from her first three books: Renascence and Other Poems, A Few Figs from Thistles, and Second April.

“A HUMDINGER . . . A MASTERLY TALE TOLD WITH CLARITY AND VERVE.” –The Times (London) The Avatars are immortal and live like kings–even though the empire is dying. Their immortality is guaranteed by magic crystals whose influence is now waning, overwhelmed by the sheer power of a great flood and a sudden ice age. But when two moons appear in the sky, and the ruthless armies of the Crystal Queen swarm across the land bringing devastation and terror, the Avatars unite with their subjects to protect their universe. As the cities face imminent destruction, three heroes emerge. Talaban, a warrior haunted by tragedy; Touchstone, the mystic tribesman seeking his lost love; and Anu, the Holy One, the Builder of Time. And when all seems lost, two others enter the fray: Sofarita, the peasant girl who will inspire a legend, and the madman, Viruk, who will become a god. . . .

"The great poems selected are arranged in five divisions according to their meters as a measure intrinsic them, rather that to epochal divisions of the history of literature. The paradigmatic example of this is the classical English sonnet...Although the Sourcebook arranges five centuries of English lyric poems according to five metrical modes, there is also an index of first lines by poet provided as well." [taken from back cover].

More than sixty years after her death, the Pulitzer Prizewinning poet Edna St. Vincent Millay continues to captivate new generations of readers. The twentieth-century American author was catapulted to fame after the publication of Renascence, her first major work and a poem written while she was still a teenager. Millays frank attitude toward sexualityalong with immortal lines such as "My candle burns at both ends"solidified her reputation as the quintessential liberated woman of the Jazz Age. In this authoritative volume, Timothy F. Jackson has compiled and annotated a new selection that represents the full range of her published work alongside previously unpublished manuscript excerpts, poems, prose, and correspondence. The poems, appearing as they were printed in their first editions, are complemented by Jacksons extensive, illuminating notes, which draw on archival sources and help situate her work in its historical and literary context. Two introductory essaysone by Jackson and the other by Millays literary executor, Holly Peppealso help critically frame the poets work.

Edna St. Vincent Millay (1892–1950) was an American playwright, Pulitzer Prize-winning lyrical poet, and feminist activist. One of the most celebrated poets in American history, Millay is hailed as the twentieth century's most skilful sonnet writers who expertly married modern attitudes with traditional forms of expression. First published in 1923, “The Poet and His Book” contains some of Millay's best poetry, including: “Renascence”, “God’s World”, “Afternoon on a Hill”, “Journey”, “Sorrow”, “Tavern”, “Ashes of Life”, “The Little Ghost”, “Kin to Sorrow”, “Three Songs of Shattering”, “The Shroud”, “The Dream”, “Indifference”, “Witch-Wife”, “Blight”, etc. Timeless and deeply profound, Millay's poems are infused with fiery romance and the youthful spirit that would become a characteristic of her writing. Highly recommended for all poetry lovers and those with a particular penchant for sonnets. Other notable works by this author include: “Two Slatterns and a King” and “The Lamp and the Bell”. Ragged Hand - Read & Co is republishing this classic poetry collection now in a new edition complete with a biography of the author by Carl Van Doren.