description Edna St. Vincent Millay Overview
Edna St. Vincent Millay was an American lyrical poet and playwright who became the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1923 for The Ballad of the Harp-Weaver. She was a prominent figure in the Bohemian culture of Greenwich Village in New York City during the 1920s and was known for her feminist activism and open bisexuality. Her poetry, including works like Renascence and A Few Figs from Thistles, frequently explored themes of romantic love, female sexuality, and personal freedom.
Millay also wrote the libretto for the successful opera The King's Henchman.
help Edna St. Vincent Millay FAQ
What did Edna St. Vincent Millay win the Pulitzer Prize for?
She received the 1923 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry for The Ballad of the Harp-Weaver. She was the first woman to win the poetry category.
What is Millay's poem "First Fig" saying?
Its candle burning at both ends represents living intensely despite knowing that such intensity cannot last. The poem appeared in A Few Figs from Thistles and became closely associated with Millay's rebellious public image.
Why is "Renascence" important to Millay's career?
The long poem brought her national attention after it appeared in the 1912 anthology The Lyric Year. Its reception helped Millay secure support to attend Vassar College.
Was Edna St. Vincent Millay only a poet?
No, she also wrote plays, including Aria da Capo, and worked with the Provincetown Players. Under the pseudonym Nancy Boyd, she published prose and other writing for magazines.
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