A Girl Called Vincent: The Life of Poet Edna St. Vincent Millay

by Krystyna Poray Goddu

Eureka! Children's Book Award Honoree

Golden Kite Award Winner

There was never anything calm about Vincent. Her sisters used to say that she had a bee chasing her. Edna St. Vincent Millay (1892–1950), known as Vincent, was an acclaimed American poet who came to embody the modern, liberated woman of the Jazz Age. From the fiery energy of her youth to the excitement and acclaim of her early adulthood in New York and Paris, to the demands of living in the public eye, Vincent’s life was characterized by creativity, hard work, and passion. A Girl Called Vincent traces her incredible journey from a unique and talented girl to an international celebrity and Pulitzer Prize–winning poet.

Raised in poverty in rural Maine, where she was often the sole caretaker of her two younger sisters, the rebellious, creative, red-haired Vincent always found time for writing, acting, singing, and playing piano. She became a sensation in young adulthood, bewitching audiences with her words, voice, and luminous appearance. She mixed with the literary figures of her time and broke many hearts. Her volumes of poetry were enormous bestsellers and audiences nationwide went wild when she recited her works onstage. In addition to poetry, Vincent’s body of work includes plays, translations, and an opera, and ranges from love sonnets to antiwar propaganda.

Packed with photos, poems, letter and diary excerpts, a time line, and bibliographic notes, A Girl Called Vincent is an eye-opening and valuable addition to any young reader’s or aspiring writer’s bookshelf.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Poetry, Biography Memoir, Middle Grade, Childrens, Art

224 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2016

About the author

Krystyna Poray Goddu holds a degree in comparative literature from Brown University. Author of numerous books including A Girl Called Vincent: The Life of Poet Edna St. Vincent Millay and Dollmakers and Their Stories: Women Who Changed the World of Play, she has contributed to American Girl magazine, the New York Times Book Review, and the Riverbank Review of Books for Young Readers and is a writer and regular reviewer of children’s books for Publishers Weekly. She has worked at Woman’s Day magazine and was founding editor of Dolls magazine and cofounder of Reverie Publishing Company, which publishes books on dolls and toys for collectors and children. She has also worked in school libraries and taught writing to middle-school students in independent schools in New York City.

Reviews

[Jaksen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very simply-written book about a complex woman. (Really, the writer often defines words which perhaps we dunce-like readers might not know, in parentheses. Who does that? Wait, was this book for younger readers? Maybe it was, I'm not sure of that.)

Goddu has hardly a bad word to say about Millay, not that there'd be many. Millay was exuberant, optimistic, often over-bearing, an extrovert's extrovert with periods of deep thought and contemplation. She lived a quick, hard, fast life, as exemplified in one of her most famous poems, in that she 'burned the candle at both ends.' Having said that...

I don't think this book gives the great poet her proper due. It's fluffy. It emphasizes her relationships as all lightness, happiness, with a lot of great drama thrown in. It doesn't strike me as hard and fast and true, nor does it delve deeply into who Millay was and what she wanted. For one thing, I do know that Millay greatly feared death, a fact of which is shown through her writings. Not a word of that in this book. Also, that she was criticized for having 'relationships outside of marriage,' which Goddu thinks is yeah kinda all right, man, cuz her husband said it was.

But I do know this was roundly criticized by the public of the time as my grandmother was one of them. 'We didn't think much of her because of the way she lived,' my fairly open-minded grandmother said. All right then, and personally me, in my twenty-first century sensibilities couldn't care less who Millay slept with, but the world she lived in often did. That ought to have been addressed somehow, somewhere, and not with a passing few sentences. The author does go into her history of illness, and boy, how Millay suffered, to the extent that later in life she was often on morphine to deal with the pain. Present-day experts believe she may have had Crohn's disease, but she also had pain in her back from a car accident.

But the book is simply just praise, praise, praise, and awards, awards, awards. Which, yes, Millay loved! Oh, my God she ate it up! And the money she made, having come from a fairly poor background, that was wonderful, too. But I wanted more about her work, how she worked, and some insight into the poetry itself. Nah, it's just not here.

And by the way, I love Millay, her work, her poetry - I own copies of all her major works. I simply wish this wasn't a 'hurray for Millay' type book, and was disappointed by it overall. Millay deserves more; she deserved better.

2.5 stars rounded up to 3

[Kelly]

Millay was kind of a badass. I mean, already knew that, but this book showcased it even more. This is another woman at this era, like Nellie Bly, who grew up in a home where her mother divorced her father. I'm sort of in awe of this and wish we had gotten more -- divorce in this era was so so hard and looked down upon and yet both Millay and Bly grew up to be badass ladies and you can't help wonder what having a mother-only family did to influence their lives in psychological and motivational ways.

The writing wasn't amazing but it was good enough, though the use of images here is really thoughtful and added a lot to the biography. I really loved seeing Millay through the years, and the photo of her at Halloween in a witch costume brought her to life in a great way.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this through Goodread's Giveaways.

I have to say that I did not know much about E St. Vincent Millay or her poetry. I do not have much experience reading poetry so I was not sure what to expect when reading this.

After reading about Vincent I'd like to read some of her poetry. The pieces that were quoted during this book were very interesting.

I have found this to be an easy read and very interesting. Vincent Millay lived an extraordinary life and wrote amazing poetry and prose. The author did a fantastic job of giving us a peak into the life of this wonderful woman and pioneer of American female poetry.

[Laila · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a sweet little book! Recommend for any age. The Millays were quite an interesting family.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A perfect size biography for one of my favorite poets of all times. Do I love Edna because she is from Maine? Because she also had a crazy childhood? Because she made the best of her world and then the world embraced her for it? Probably all three! I loved reading how the crowds thronged to see this poetess, this diminutive Maine woman who blew the minds of those attending, with her impassioned readings, and got people excited about poetry! Always looking for good, not overly long biographies to recommend to teens when they are required to read one and this fits the bill!

[Libby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had heard the name Edna St. Vincent Millay, and I knew she was a poet, but that was literally IT before I read this book. I didn't know she was American, I didn't know she was so modern, and I certainly didn't know how famous she was during her lifetime. This biography is detailed without getting bogged down, and it also introduces the reader to Millay's poetry (with very short excerpts overall). Worthwhile, especially for students who need to do a "famous person" research project, and want to choose someone who won't be chosen by 50 of their classmates.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. This book is a biography of Edna St. Vincent Millay written for a young adult audience, and Goddu does an excellent job in writing about the complexities of Millay's life for that audience. Hopefully, this book will encourage more young people to read Millay's poetry, and will help those who already love her poems to read them on a deeper level.

[Sunsettowers · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from the publisher at ALA in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself.


Goddu tells the true story of the fascinating life of renowned female poet Edna St. Vincent Millay.


This book flew by! I finished it in just a few hours. It's absolutely fascinating and really well-written. I closed the book feeling I had learned so much, and had a lot of fun doing so.


There's really nothing not to like about this book. It is aimed towards middle schoolers, but I feel adults can and should read it too.


I would definitely recommend this book. It's a great, fun way to learn about a fascinating women and be introduced to her poetry.

[Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply written, like many of Vincent’s poems, this biography had me falling in love with E. Vincent Millay. Wielding sparse prose, Goddu laid out just the right combination of anecdotes, letters, and lines of poetry, like pieces of tissue dropped upon the page, seemingly haphazardly until the overlaps create depth and texture that comes together to paint a picture, and in this case, that picture shows a soul who is bursting with eternal confidence, and yet again and again sinks under the weight of the suffering of the entire world; who is strong and independent, and yet habitually hovers on the brink of loneliness calling out for her loves and family. I highly recommend this tome to lovers of poetry or anyone seeking a glimpse of the past.

[Mary K · Rating 4 out of 5]

My niece found this little gem for me after we had visited Camden Maine last spring. Although I was familiar with Vincent's story I enjoyed this young adult version of her life. The chapters cover her biography well and is interspersed with verses from her poems. I thought the author did a fine job of telling about the free spirited Vincent in terms a young person could grasp. I was struck again as to what a huge celebrity she was in her time, a time in the past where the common man was entranced by language. All in all, a good read and an excellent introduction to this complex & quixotic poet.

[Maggie Eisenberger · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a YA account of Millay's life but unless you want the more salacious details it conveys all you need to know about her extraordinary spirit and adventures. I had always considered her poetry rather insipid but after reading this I realize that's only because the only verses of hers that were provided in a private religious elementary school were the ones she wrote at a young age, mostly about nature, and not the passionate ones of her mature years. Reading the nature poems would never have made me suspect she was so capable of breaking the rules of society and carving her own path the way she did.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

A pleasant account of Millay’s life filled with the nitty gritty details distilled from recent scholarship. The author’s enthusiasm for the subject is affecting - if you were not already a fan of Millay you will be by the end of this biography.
Critical at turns but also full of wonderment of the poet and her times. Millay’s triumphs and tragedy’s are laid bare and the context of the poet’s life exposed. The genius of her work, the hard scholarship and study, and the multifaceted depth of her talent are all touched upon.
Delightful.

[Kendra · Rating 5 out of 5]

A glowingly fantastic biography of ESVM for the middlegrade set, and well deserving of its Junior Library Guild award. I picked this book up as a quick primer of the poet's life, and am as thoroughly enchanted by the Vincent evoked in its pages as was 1920s & 30s America. Beautiful work by Goddu, accompanied by gorgeous photos throughout. Would absolutely recommend for budding artists in middle and high school (or, frankly, of any age).

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A biography of a poet who was very well known during her own lifetime (early 20th century) but lesser known today. The author is able to present Vincent as relatable and relevant to today’s teenagers with a judicious use of narrative and Vincent’s own poetry and journal writings.

The author has included photos, poems, letter and diary excerpts, a time line, and bibliographic notes.

[Melinda M · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Girl Called Vincent: The Life of Poet Edna St. Vincent Millay by Krystyna Poray Goddu is an interesting biography of a American poet. This biography is written for a young audience and is simple. Edna St. VINCENT Millay who was from Maine, managed to get people interested in her poetry. It was an interesting read that kept my attention.

I won a copy thru a Goodreads giveaway.

[Mary Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Keep in mind this is a YA biography. Even so, it's fairly watered down. It's also quite apparent Millay is a personal hero of the author which leads to a severe lack of objectivism. This book is a decent intro to Millay's life, but I'll definitely be checking out a more in-depth biography from the adult nonfiction to complement it.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although geared for younger readers, I still found this book to be a delight. It encapsulates Vincents life for new generations and I plan to gift it to my young adult nieces in hopes that they too, feel inspired by Millay’s poetry and life.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very accessible biography of an extraordinary life. The photos and excerpts of her work scattered throughout made it an even more enjoyable read. Would recommend for middle or high school students.

[Suzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had heard of Edna St. Vincent Millay but had not read her poetry. This book brings the poet and her poetry to life. An interesting read.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had no idea what an interesting life that Vincent lead. Very informative!

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lively, admiring introduction to the restless, rebellious, fiercely independent poet and her work.

[Rebekah Palmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked learning about how unschooled Vincent and her sisters truly were in their education and upbringing and how undisciplined they were is fascinating.

[Dori · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book and could hardly put it down. She led such an interesting life and I love the closeness of her family.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this portrait of Edna St. Vincent Millay, both because I've enjoyed her poetry and fictional accounts like Fallen Beauty. But this one introduces teens to Millay both as a crazy red-haired sister and daughter and as a passionate poet. The incorporation of the poetry at certain times wasn't overdone, it was just right to introduce readers to the best passages and the contexts for which they were written. Just like The Brontë Sisters: The Brief Lives of Charlotte, Emily, and Anne discusses overcoming writing in a male-dominated field, I was entertained by her ability to "fake" being male with how she signed poetry when sending it in for contests as well as how she calmly responded to her superintendent and social studies teacher when he refused to call her Vincent like everyone else.

The love she had for her sisters and mother growing up was beautifully written and Cora's struggles after leaving Millay's father and deciding to raise the girls herself was a testament to how hard it was in light of illness and finding work. Millay tried to keep the connection by writing to her father, but it didn't last and even later in life, she became disconnected with one of her sisters, yet family was still an integral part of her upbringing-- when they would work from the corners of the room cleaning and attack the last corner together-- gold!

I'm fascinated by her writing to an imaginary love on Thursdays of the month in her diary and her relationship with her husband. The arch of her life was captured with depth and heart, while not overwhelming readers, it is the perfect dose for teen readers who might want to connect with her poetry and performances.

My favorite poem from inside the the book, as it related to her mother:

Dearest, when you go away
My heart will go, too,
Will be with you all the day,
All the night with you.
Where you are through lonely years,
There my heart will be,
I will guide you past all fears
And bring you back to me.

[Brianna Westervelt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This brief but meaty biography of “America’s Foremost Woman Poet” emphasizes her girlish ambitions and achievements. Which is not a stretch for Edna St. Vincent Millay. She experienced a wealth of fame from very early on in her life, making a name for herself through her poetry, prose, playwriting, and even acting.

Author Krystyna Poray Goddu is able to relate moments of Vincent’s early 20th-century youth to that of today’s reader. For instance, Goddu writes, “Vincent was also a teenage girl with teenage interests: boys and clothes.” (The target reading audience for this book is ages nine to thirteen, but as with most #YAHistorical titles, is perfectly readable for grownups.)

Despite Vincent’s seemingly rapid aging in later chapters, her carefree style certainly doesn’t fit that of an average adult, even well into her fifties. This arrested adolescence continues right up until Vincent's untimely death, which even today remains a mystery.

Though Vincent experienced great fame, the young readers of this book will still be able to find pieces of her life to relate to: the separation of parents, figuring out life after high school, turning twenty years old, starting college, and feeling a need to rebel. Goddu explores all these adolescent topics and more in prose that is a combination of narrative and literary analysis.

This writing style whetted my appetite for reading more of Edna St. Vincent Millay’s work. I don’t consider myself a “poetry person,” but this biography of a great American poet made me want to be—that’s where the bibliography of books both about and by “the girl called Vincent” comes in handy.

(Originally appeared in the March 2016 issue of Quindaro Press's Actually newsletter.)

[avascheibler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was an informative yet page-turning biography about a seemingly incredible and passionate woman who shaped America in her own way. Before this book, I had never heard of Edna St. Vincent Millay, but now I know so much about her -- this book combined factual information with adjectives and exuberant descriptions that keep the reader reading -- great job, Krystyna Goddu. This book is a great example of how an author wanted to share and bring back someone's story, and did. Now, thousands of girls and boys, men and women will learn about what a woman in the 20th century who dedicated her entire life to the mysterious and captivating subject of poetry.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this! I didn't know much about this poet except for the poem "Ricuerdo," so I was very interested to hear about her life, and what led to her incredible use of the English language. What a life this woman had! Now I have to go back and read all her work. Will my Middle School students read this? Maybe. But as an adult, I loved it!

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A riveting biography for about 100 pages, after which I found myself losing steam. Millay is a spunky, free-thinking poet who lived in the early 20th century. She cared for her family, she excelled in creative pursuits, and she lived fully. Her early life was marked by financial struggle, and the later portion of her life was burdened by illness, but it seems as though she never let either completely overtake her.

The interspersed poetry gives the reader a taste of Millay's work (I had never read any of her poetry): just enough to inspire a reader to investigate further. Elements for discussion: free love and monogamy, war, and suicide.

Might recommend to someone who appreciates the Anne of Green Gables or Betsy-Tacy series, Cheaper by the Dozen, or anything by or about Anne Lindbergh.

[Irene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received a copy from Goodreads Give Away Program.

Thoroughly enjoyed the book. Excellent read, beautifully written. The reader can tell that Ms. Goddu is truly inspired by Millay. She speaks of many personal details which helped shaped Millay's view of life and her writings.

Even though this is written for the YA audience, I would also recommend it for older readers as well. If I had been introduced to Vincent Millay early in life, I believe I would have had a better appreciation and understanding of poetry.

Very brief, concise biography. Extremely well researched.

Outstanding addition to any reader's bookshelf.

Definitely recommend!

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars I read this book fairly quickly. It was interesting and kept me in the book. However, I don't see this book appealing to a wide variety of people. I have to admit I would have never read it if it wasn't for a book award committee but I was worth reading.

I can't see a Young Adult reading clamoring for this to fulfill their biography reading criteria!
However, I am interested it reading some of her poetry! I don't love poetry, I am of the school of "geeze just say it already" but a good non-fiction book catapults you into wanting more information.
If you are into poetry and want to become a poet this is an in inspiration story!