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Title: Fascinating Subject -- Frustrating Bio
Review: The author of this book seems almost completely incurious as to the motivation and sources of Millay's actions. She provides a complete chronology but almost never asks why. Why marry this man? Have that affair at this time? Why no children? Why the apparent indifference (other than in her poetry) to spiritual questions? Etc.Millay's charm is evident in her letters and her talent is illustrated by the poetry that is quoted. But Milford never seems interested in asking why this woman behaved so unconventionally for her time and her class. Even when Millay mentions her "philsophy" Milford doesn't bother to discuss what that philosophy was and how it was revealed in her poetry and/or other writing.As other reviewers have noted -- the book documents a lot of her sexual behavior -- but never tries to provide shed any light on the sources of that behavior. So the book ends up being sort of prurient without ever being graphic.A big disappointment.
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