description The Dolphin Overview
Robert Lowell’s “The Dolphin,” published in 1973, explores intensely personal themes through a confessional style. The collection incorporates excerpts from letters written by his former wife, Julia Heck, revealing struggles with mental illness and family dynamics. It earned Lowell the Pulitzer Prize and remains a significant work within American poetry, particularly for readers interested in introspective verse concerning trauma and relationships.
insights Ranking position
The Dolphin ranks #226 of 430 in the Poetry Collection ranking, behind Faithful and Virtuous Night, ahead of Bells and Tracks.
help The Dolphin FAQ
Whose letters did Robert Lowell use in The Dolphin?
Lowell incorporated and altered passages from letters written by his second wife, novelist Elizabeth Hardwick. Their use without her consent became one of the central ethical controversies surrounding the 1973 collection.
Why did Elizabeth Bishop object to The Dolphin?
Bishop believed Lowell was violating Hardwick's trust by changing private letters and turning them into poetry. Other writers, including Adrienne Rich, also criticized the personal harm caused by the book.
What part does Caroline Blackwood play in The Dolphin?
The collection draws on Lowell's separation from Hardwick and his relationship with Caroline Blackwood, whom he married in 1972. The title's dolphin image was associated with Blackwood and Lowell's imagined new life with her.
Which major award did The Dolphin receive?
The Dolphin won the 1974 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry. The award remained controversial because its literary achievement could not be separated easily from Lowell's appropriation of Elizabeth Hardwick's correspondence.
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