Peppered throughout the book, Norma's interviews underscore the fact that despite all her lovers and her monumental self-love, Millay's most intimate relationships were with her mother, Cora, first, and then with her two sisters, However, Norma, who has since died, exercised no control over the final product.

She also agreed to be interviewed for the biography, and Milford uses these little chats throughout the book as commentary on Millay's life. While she was still alive, Millay's sister, Norma Ellis, finally agreed to give Milford access to the poet's papers after having guarded them for more than 30 years after Millay's death. One reason is that 'Savage Beauty' is both an authorized and unauthorized biography. Epstein's bigger problem is that he's paddling a canoe in the wake of an ocean liner: Milford's biography is one of the fall's big books, and deservedly so. Vincent Millay ( Henry Holt 300 pages $26), but his work is marred by shoddy research and overwriting. Jacqueline Susann herself would have trouble cataloging the sex (lesbian and straight), romance, heartbreak, infidelity, drug abuse, alcoholism, mental illness and dramatically tragic end that marked a life that was, indeed, larger than life.Ĭoincidentally, Daniel Mark Epstein does focus a bit more directly on the poetry in his book What Lips My Lips Have Kissed: The Loves and Love Poems of Edna St. While her poems may seem old-fashioned today, Millay broke convention in her work, but it's how she broke convention in her personal life that wins our attention. That makes sense, as Millay's notoriety had much to do with the public's interest in her work when she was alive. Milford clearly admires the poetry, but it's Millay's extraordinary life that commands her primary interest.

Edna st vincent millay savage beauty