No More Masks: An Anthology of Twentieth-Century American Women Poets

by Florence Howe

A revised and expanded edition of the classic groundbreaking anthology of 20th-century American women's poetry, representing more than 100 poets from Amy Lowell to Anne Sexton to Rita Dove.

Genres: Poetry, Feminism, Anthologies, Womens, Female Authors, Nonfiction, History

560 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1973

Reviews

[nomdebuerre · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most god awful ugly cover for one of the best collections of poetry in the English language. Don't let it deter you. This book got me through the last torturous two years of high school.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anthologies don't get any better than this. A compendium of poetry that runs the gamut of both the personal and the political, from the alpha to the omega, of women's poems.

In the memorable verses of a Muriel Rukeyser poem: No more masks! No more mythologies! calls for an end to personae, and a plea to reveal the real voices and visions of women's poetry with none of the "mythological" mystery usually associated with female poets.

Features well-reputed poetesses as well as some who may be underrecognized in the canon. A great resource for discovering new female writers and expanding your feminist lexicon. It's a wise tool for theses, too.

[Ambrose Miles · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my poem a day compendium. An excellent source of women poets.

[Aimee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Women writing to and about their poetic predecessors, their contemporaries, their grandmothers. Writing about motherhood, misogyny, politics, domesticity. Writing about sexuality, about racism, about legacy. The impact of all of these poets in conversation in the same physical book becomes something even more than the sum of its stunning parts...

[Kerfe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here's another book of poetry I've been slipping in and out of for years. I have no idea how to rate an anthology like this--there are many wonderful poem, and just as many which seemed dated, or excessively whiney, angry, strident. Write an essay or a few pages in your journal. A poem need more than resentment to mean something. But it's worth sifting through them all for the gems.

I discovered new poets, and became newly acquainted with women I had read previously. Denise Levertov, Linda Pastan, Diane di Prima, Diane Wakoski, Eleanor Wilner, Ntozake Shange.

If I could see it happen, I could
know when all tides tip; how luck
shifts; and when loss is ready. When
you are saying goodbye to someone you think
you'll see them next week. And don't. Ever.
--Josephine Jacobsen, "The Motion"

I lived by magic
a little bag in my chest held a whiling stone
so hot it was past burning
so radiant it was blinding
--May Swenson, "A Dream"

I'm earthbound
and solitude is my companion,
the only one you can count on
--AI, "The Man With the Saxophone"

I'm sure other readers will have other favorites. There's plenty here for everyone.

[Mae · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved feeling connected to 100 years of creative women. Of the many poets in this collection, I walked away with 38 to check out further. This does have a 2nd wave feminist vibe, which is great in many ways, but I will supplement with a poetry collection of trans women poets.

[Professor Typewriter · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent anthology. Good selections, superb poet, and poems that are simply inspired.

[Halina Goldstein · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a collection of poetry from before 1970, and it is amazing to discover the unique, brave, powerful women voices there. Both in the context of their time and universally.

[Amy in the Desert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great anthology!

[behsforensics]

Team owns Propaganda Poem: Maybe for Some Young Mamas by Ostriker, Alicia digitally.

[Rob · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up at the local library book sale because I thought it sounded like an interesting anthology of poems. Reading this introduced me to a number of poets whose work I had not yet had the opportunity to read. I was particularly impressed with Nikki Giovanni's poems and plan on reading more of her stuff sometime.

I thought it was kind of nice that many of these women poets have become popular in present day anthologies--at least I remember studying a number of these women's work in my classes: poets like Edna St. Vincent Millay, Gwendolyn Brooks, Denise Levertov, Anne Sexton, and Sylvia Plath. The anthology contains work by over 100 different poets, so it hardly represents any one poet, rather it focuses on what it means to be a woman and a poet and it highlights the work of an astonishing variety of voices.

[KAOS · Rating 4 out of 5]

as cheesy as it sounds, this was one of the books that made me a feminist: my writing instructor at art camp (8th grade) had the original anthology and i bought the updated one. for a long time i thought that the original was better. it's very "second-wave" but a great place to start if you are unfamiliar with feminism, poetry or both. i used to love (and was totally shocked by) the poet alta and her modern and nasty little poems.

[Jesse · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great collection of poems by women. It was some of the first stuff I ever read that was lesbian-centered and feminist and intense and it is a really comprehensive anthology of a wide variety of poets, some well known, others not so much. I must confess to not being a huge fan of poetry in general but this book is something I remember fondly from a period of my life perspective and from a pick it up from the shelf and read a poem or two every now and then perspective.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

The problem with this book is that it's outdated. Many of the poets generalize the woman's experience to basic themes I have heard for many years. This book is useful in terms of a historical study of Feminism and women's perspectives in relation to writing. The only poet I liked was a woman called Asia.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fabulous introduction to many fine female poets. My mom bought it for me when I was in high school and it's quite worn now. I love to return to it having learned more about the poets therein over the years.

[Hannah Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like quite a few of the poets from this book, but I do not feel like their best poems were chosen.

My two favorite poems? "Gift for my Mother's 90th Birthday" by Maude Meehan and "The Suburb" by Anne Stevenson.

[James Debruicker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the last book I acquired to replace those I lost access to after a breakup. The poetry ranges in quality, but it's worth owning for Thylias Moss' "The Party To Which Wolves Are Invited" alone.

[Puja · Rating 5 out of 5]

i used this anthology as the basis of my high school thesis. a great book for the shelf.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book started it all for me, back in the early 90's . . . content of different editions varies significantly.

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite collection of poetry!! The best!

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not usually into modern poetry, but the editors of this collection have put together an amazing book of poetry by women. It is no wonder this is used in so many classrooms.

[Sue Russell · Rating 3 out of 5]

An important collection but not as good as the earlier edition.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This brings back a memory or two!

[Tammy V · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful anthology of women's poetry - giving you a wide ranging taste so you can zero in on the voices you like.

[Kelly Gatfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thought provoking, heart wrenching, and a celebration of the passions of women.

Favorites:

"Heirloom"
"Notes from the Delivery Room"
"Winter Song"

[Terry Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many poems by so many female poets = happiness, respect and a volume of quotable works that I'll be pulling off the shelf for the rest of my life.

[Glenda Bailey-Mershon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must have. Many wonderful ports, and terrific annotations.

[Aaron Blair-McCutchen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is probably my favorite poetry anthology. So many incredible female poets in one place.

[Marks House]

2 copies