Savage Beauty
by Milford, Nancy
Thirty years after the smashing success of Zelda, Nancy Milford returns with a stunning second act. Savage Beauty is the portrait of a passionate, fearless woman who obsessed American ever as she tormented herself.If F. Scott Fitzgerald was the hero of the Jazz Age, Edna St. Vincent Millay, as flamboyant in her love affairs as she was in her art, was its heroine. The first woman ever to win the Pulitzer Prize, Millay was dazzling in the performance of herself. Her voice was likened to an instrument of seduction and her impact on crowds, and on men, was legendary. Yet beneath her studied act, all was not well. Milford calls her book "a family romance"--for the love between the three Millay sisters and their mother was so deep as to be dangerous. As a family, they were like real-life Little Women, with a touch of Mommie Dearest.Nancy Milford was given exclusive access to Millay's papers, and what she found was an extraordinary treasure. Boxes and boxes of letter flew back and forth among the three sisters and their mother--and Millay kept the most intimate diary, one whose ruthless honesty brings to mind Sylvia Plath. Written with passion and flair, Savage Beauty is an iconic portrait of a woman's life.
Reviews
Review this book!
On Mar 29, 2014, FanofTime-LifeBooks said
Zane Grey’s The Trail Driver is a historical novel set on the Chisholm Trail in the 1870s. Adam Brite, Texas Joe Shipman, Panhandle Smith, and the other cowboys in the outfit encounter quicksand, stampeders, swollen rivers, treachery, hail storms, electrical storms, outlaws, and stampedes as they drive cattle from San Antonio, Texas to Dodge City, Kansas. And, to make things interesting, one of the cowboys turns out to be a girl. This is the first Zane Grey book I have read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. If you are wanting to start reading Zane Grey books and do not know where to begin you cannot go wrong with The Trail Driver.
On Mar 29, 2014, a reader said
"Savage Beauty" is about Edna St. Vincent Millay. I knew nothing about her, but the title grabbed my attention at a book sale. I could not put the book down! She was a fascinating, but sad, person. The book is interspersed with some of her poetry. I rarely read poetry, and yet, it worked for me, especially in the context of this book. Much of the information for this bio was obtained from journals/diaries held by Millay's sister, which had not previously been released. A thoroughly fascinating book.
On Apr 6, 2007, Greenberry said
I've been reading the poetry of Edna St. Vincent Millay lately, so I was pleased to find this book in one of the boxes that my aunt sent at the beginning of the winter. I knew very little about the poet and her life, so this biography, thirty years in the writing, makes me want to take a new look at the poems. Although I feel that there are some faults in Milford's biography, seeing the poetry against the background of a life, often troubled but always adventurous, added a new dimension to my understanding. Millay spoke for a new generation of women, those of the Jazz Age that were stepping across boundaries and breaking into new territory. Millay smoked in public and made no secret of her many lovers, both male and female. Marriage vows, her own or another's, had little effect on her behavior. Her troubled life began in Maine, where her father abandoned the family early and her mother felt obliged to leave her three small daughters alone for long periods of time while working as a nurse. The relationship between the four women affected much of "Vincent's" life, with turmoil between herself and a difficult younger sister who felt overshadowed by Vincent's talent. Cora Buzzell Millay, Vincent's mother, seems to struggle with pride and jealousy in Milford's portrayal of her, and it sometimes seems that Vincent and her sisters go to great lengths to pacify Cora's demands, perhaps from fear of abandonment. There is a hint at one point that Vincent may have been molested by a man Cora was involved with. What struck me most about Vincent Millay's life is that genius so often comes out of such a life. Talented people often seem to be driven toward a need for experience, and the depth of their work reveals an understanding of experience that so many of us lack. We need these people to speak for us, out of their pain, to say what we cannot find words to reveal. Milford disappoints me occasionally throughout her work. She isn't a particularly organized writer; the book is unsettling in the manner that the material is presented, sometimes in an almost haphazard fashion. It is difficult to capture a life, of course, but the best biographers understand the "why" behind the "what happened" and these reasons elude Milford. Reading between the lines of the numerous excerpts of Millay's works, journals and letters is up to the reader, and Milford offers no interpretation or analysis. I felt sometimes that Milford was overwhelmed with the material, and perhaps intimidated by Millay's sister, Norma. Savage Beauty has some flaws, but so did Edna St. Vincent Millay. The biography is well worth reading for the facts presented and the excerpts from Millay's journals and less accessible writing beyond her poetry. The biography has encouraged me to go back to the poems, with a better understanding of their author, and this is accomplishment enough.
Available Copies
SAVAGE BEAUTY
by NANCY MILFORD
- Condition
- LIKE NEW
- Jacket Condition
- DJ NEW
- Published
- 2001
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9780394575896
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Hialeah, Florida, USA
- Item Price
-
NZ$75.70
Show Details
Description:
2001. Hardcover . LIKE NEW /DJ NEW . Signed Copy Item Price
NZ$75.70
Savage Beauty : The Life of Edna St. Vincent Millay
by Nancy Milford
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Published
- 2001
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9780394575896
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Seattle, Washington, USA
- Item Price
-
NZ$10.70
Show Details
Description:
Random House Publishing Group, 2001. Hardcover. Good. Disclaimer:A copy that has been read, but remains in clean condition. All pages are intact, and the cover is intact. The spine may show signs of wear. Pages can include limited notes and highlighting, and the copy can include previous owner inscriptions. The dust jacket is missing. At ThriftBooks, our motto… Read more about this item Item Price
NZ$10.70
Savage Beauty: The Life of Edna St. Vincent Millay
by Milford, Nancy
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Jacket Condition
- Very Good
- Edition
- First Edition / First Printing
- Published
- 2001
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9780394575896
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Easthampton, Massachusetts, USA
- Item Price
-
NZ$16.82
Show Details
Description:
Random House, 2001. First Edition / First Printing. Hardcover. Very Good/Very Good. FFEP contains sticker residue and date stamp. Else Very good book in protective Mylar with light soiling to text block. DJ lightly scuffed. Item Price
NZ$16.82
Savage Beauty : The Life of Edna St. Vincent Millay
by Milford, Nancy
- Condition
- Used - Good
- ISBN
- 9780394575896
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Mishawaka, Indiana, USA
- Item Price
-
NZ$11.94
Show Details
Description:
Random House Publishing Group. Used - Good. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages. Item Price
NZ$11.94
Savage Beauty: The Life of Edna St. Vincent Millay
by Milford, Nancy
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Jacket Condition
- Very Good
- Edition
- Bc. Ed.
- Published
- 2001-09-04
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9780394575896
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Middlebury, Vermont, USA
- Item Price
-
NZ$16.82
Show Details
Description:
US: Random House, 2001-09-04. Bc. Ed.. Hardcover. Very Good/Very Good. 550 pages. Clean, unmarked copy with only minor wear to dust jacket. Record # 463691 Item Price
NZ$16.82
Savage Beauty : The Life of Edna St. Vincent Millay
by Milford, Nancy
- Condition
- Used - Good
- ISBN
- 9780394575896
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Mishawaka, Indiana, USA
- Item Price
-
NZ$8.41
Show Details
Description:
Random House Publishing Group. Used - Good. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages. Item Price
NZ$8.41
SAVAGE BEAUTY: THE LIFE OF EDNA ST. VINCENT MILLAY
by Milford, Nancy
- Condition
- Used
- Published
- 2001
- Binding
- Hardcover, dust jacket
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
New Castle, Delaware, USA
- Item Price
-
NZ$38.69
Show Details
Description:
New York: Random House, 2001. hardcover, dust jacket. Millay, Edna St. Vincent. 8vo. hardcover, dust jacket. 550, (3) pages. First edition, later printing. A fine copy in fine jacket. Item Price
NZ$38.69
Savage Beauty: The Life of Edna St. Vincent Millay
by MILFORD, Nancy
- Condition
- Used - Near Fine
- Jacket Condition
- Fine
- Published
- 2001
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Gloucester City, New Jersey, USA
- Item Price
-
NZ$42.06
Show Details
Description:
New York: Random House, 2001. Hardcover. Near Fine/Fine. First edition. Thick octavo. 550pp. Illustrated from black and white photographs. Spine ends lightly bumped and cocked, near fine in a fine dustwrapper. Item Price
NZ$42.06
Savage Beauty: The Life of Edna St. Vincent Millay
by Milford, Nancy
- Condition
- UsedGood
- ISBN
- 9780375760815
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Interlochen, Michigan, USA
- Item Price
-
NZ$10.85
Show Details
Description:
UsedGood. The item shows wear from consistent use, but it remains in good condition and works perfectly. All pages and cover are intact (including the dust cover, if applicable). Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May NOT include discs, access code or other supplemental materials. Item Price
NZ$10.85
Savage Beauty: The Life of Edna St. Vincent Millay
by Milford, Nancy
- Condition
- Used - Very Good+ in Very Good+ dust jacket
- Edition
- Seventh Printing
- Published
- 2001
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9780394575896
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Naples, Florida, USA
- Item Price
-
NZ$47.10
Show Details
Description:
NY: Random House. Very Good+ in Very Good+ dust jacket. 2001. Seventh Printing. Hardcover. 039457589X . In VG+ DJ (in protector) ; Signed and inscribed by author. Hardback (gray spine/gray boards). xviii + 550 pp. B&W photos. Notes, index. Bio of poet; 8vo; xviii + 550 pages; Signed by Author . Item Price
NZ$47.10
Savage Beauty: The Life of Edna St. Vincent Millay
by Milford, Nancy
- Condition
- New
- Jacket Condition
- New
- Edition
- 1st Edition
- Published
- 2001
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9780394575896
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Charlotte Hall, Maryland, USA
- Item Price
-
NZ$100.85
Show Details
Description:
New York: Random House, 2001. 1st Edition . Hardcover. New/New. 8vo - over 7¾ - 9¾" tall. First Edition, First Printing with correct number line sequence, no writing, marks, underlining, or bookplates. No remainder marks. Spine is tight and crisp. Boards are flat and true and the corners are square. Dust jacket is not price-clipped. This collectible,… Read more about this item Item Price
NZ$100.85
Savage Beauty: The Life of Edna St. Vincent Millay
by Milford, Nancy
- Condition
- Used - Good
- ISBN
- 9780375760815
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Frederick, Maryland, USA
- Item Price
-
NZ$7.07
Show Details
Description:
Random House Trade Paperbacks. Used - Good. Good condition. A copy that has been read but remains intact. May contain markings such as bookplates, stamps, limited notes and highlighting, or a few light stains. Item Price
NZ$7.07
Savage Beauty : The Life of Edna St. Vincent Millay
by Milford, Nancy
- Condition
- Used - Good
- ISBN
- 9780375760815
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Reno, Nevada, USA
- Item Price
-
NZ$11.46
Show Details
Description:
Random House Publishing Group. Used - Good. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages. Item Price
NZ$11.46
Savage Beauty: The Life of Edna St. Vincent Millay
by Milford, Nancy
- Condition
- Used - Fine copy in fine dust jacket
- Edition
- 1st
- Published
- 2001
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9780394575896
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Pittsford, New York, USA
- Item Price
-
NZ$12.62
Show Details
Description:
New York: Random House. Fine copy in fine dust jacket. 2001. 1st. hardcover. 8vo, 550 pp. . Item Price
NZ$12.62
Savage Beauty: The Life of Edna St. Vincent Millay
by Milford, Nancy
- Condition
- Used - Very good in very good dust jacket. DJ has slight wear and soiling, with small edge wear. Corner of one page creased.
- Edition
- First edition. Stated
- Published
- 2001
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9780394575896
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
- Item Price
-
NZ$58.88
Show Details
Description:
New York: Random House, 2001. First edition. Stated. Hardcover. Very good in very good dust jacket. DJ has slight wear and soiling, with small edge wear. Corner of one page creased.. xviii, 550, [3] p. Illustrations. Notes. Index. Thirty years after the smashing success of "Zelda", Milford returns with a stunning second act. "Savage Beauty" is the portrait… Read more about this item Item Price
NZ$58.88
Savage Beauty
by Nancy Milford
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Jacket Condition
- Very Good
- ISBN
- 9780394575896
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Rochester, New York, USA
- Item Price
-
NZ$10.50
Show Details
Description:
Moderate wear Item Price
NZ$10.50
Savage Beauty: The Life of Edna St. Vincent Millay
by Milford, Nancy
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN
- 9780375760815
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
GORING BY SEA, West Sussex, GBR
- Item Price
-
NZ$16.73
Show Details
Description:
Paperback. Very Good. Item Price
NZ$16.73
Savage Beauty: the life of Edna St. Vincent Millay
by Milford, Nancy
- Condition
- Used - Very Good -
- Jacket Condition
- Good
- Edition
- First Edition, 2nd Printing
- Published
- 2001
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9780394575896
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Item Price
-
NZ$30.28
Show Details
Description:
New York: Random House, 2001. A nice reading copy. Pages are clean and bright. Binding is tight. Book and jacket show some shelfwear. Jacket has been mylared for protection. Jacket spine is rolled at the head and foot.. First Edition, 2nd Printing. Hard Cover. Very Good -/Good. Mylared. Item Price
NZ$30.28
Savage Beauty: The Life of Edna St. Vincent Millay
by Milford, Nancy
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Jacket Condition
- Good
- Edition
- 1st
- Published
- 2001
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9780394575896
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Middlebury, Vermont, USA
- Item Price
-
NZ$31.96
Show Details
Description:
New York: Random House, 2001. 1st. Hardcover. Very Good/Good. 550 pages. Hardcover. 30 pages of b&w photography throughout. Silver gilt titles on spine. Related article laid in. Some edge wear to dust jacket, otherwise clean, tight copy. Record # 468549 Item Price
NZ$31.96
Savage Beauty: The Life of Edna St. Vincent Millay
by Nancy Milford
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Published
- 2002-09-10
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN
- 9780375760815
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Item Price
-
NZ$14.30
Show Details
Description:
Random House Trade Paperbacks, 2002-09-10. Paperback. Very Good. Very good paperback. Spine is uncreased, binding tight and sturdy, text also very good; shelfwear is very minor. A nice copy. Item Price
NZ$14.30