Timothy F. Jackson on the Letters of Edna St. Vincent Millay

The editor of "Into the World's Greatest Heart: Selected Letters of Edna St. Vincent Millay," discusses Millay's letters from childhood through the last year of her life in this virtual event.

Timothy F. Jackson, associate professor of English at Rosemont College, discusses via Zoom the letters of the Pulitzer Prize–winning poet and playwright Edna St. Vincent Millay.

Throughout her life, Edna St. Vincent Millay wrote hundreds of letters, which together create a colorful tapestry of her inner life. The  selections included in "Into the World's Greatest Heart," based on archival research, represents Millay’s correspondence from 1900, when she was eight, until 1950, the last year of her life. Through her letters, readers of the book will encounter the vast range of Millay’s interests, including world literature, music, and horse racing, as well as her commitment to gender equality and social justice. The volume is enriched by Jackson’s introduction and notes, plus a foreword by Millay’s literary executor, Holly Peppe.

Timothy F. Jackson will touch upon some of the previously unpublished correspondence that was found during research, as well as the letters that contain early versions of poems, revealing new dimensions in Millay’s creative process and influences.

Presented with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this programming do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

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