The Complete Poems Book Summary

In 'The Complete Poems', Anne Sexton fearlessly delves into the depths of human experience, exploring themes of despair, love, and mental illness with raw honesty. Her innovative approach to confessional poetry invites readers into her most intimate thoughts and struggles. Each poem serves as a revealing glimpse into her psyche, marked by striking imagery and emotional intensity. Through her words, Sexton challenges societal norms and offers a powerful voice for those often silenced. This collection is not just a read; it's an experience that resonates long after the last page is turned.

By Anne Sexton

Published: 1999

"I am a woman and I am not afraid of my frailties. I embrace my suffering and turn it into art."

Book Review of The Complete Poems

The Complete Poems: Anne Sexton comprises the poet's ten volumes of verse, including the Pulitzer Prize-winner Live or Die, as well as seven poems from her last years. From the joy and anguish of her own experience, Sexton fashioned poems that told truths about the inner lives of men and women. Women poets in particular owe a debt to Anne Sexton, who broke new ground, shattered taboos, and endured a barrage of attacks along the way because of the flamboyance of her subject matter...Sexton has earned her place in the canon.--from the Foreword by Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Maxine Kumin

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I am a woman and I am not afraid of my frailties. I embrace my suffering and turn it into art.

The Complete Poems

By Anne Sexton