Why read Selected Poems of Anne Sexton?

Book cover of Selected Poems of Anne Sexton

Book description

Anne Sexton's language was simple, domestic; her imagery arresting; her subject matter urgent, shocking and exciting. She wrote about mental breakdown, sex, addiction, abortion - the other side of ordinary life. 'Madness' and its cultural meanings were central to her art as to her life; yet it is a bright,…

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Poetry

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Why read it?

1 author picked Selected Poems of Anne Sexton as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Christina Strigas

Author

I’ve been fascinated by poetry ever since I picked up this book for seven dollars at the second-hand bookstore near my university at the age of nineteen. Anne Sexton’s Selected Poems taught me how to write confessional poetry. They taught me how to write narrative poetry. They taught me to not be afraid to speak my truth, no matter how ugly.

I love how Anne Sexton writes about marriage, affairs, love, loss, family, and relationships with depth into herself and her psyche. Her poems in this collection encompass all her most remarkable work from her array of poetry books. Here…

From Christina's list on The best poetry books that speak to the soul.