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No More Masks: An Anthology of Twentieth-Century American Women Poets
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.
560 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1973
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
July 13, 2008
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.
June 5, 2008
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.
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.
October 25, 2024
This was my poem a day compendium. An excellent source of women poets.
December 11, 2018
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...
April 17, 2025
This book is a historical document at this point--but a timeless one that I think should remain in print and be part of Women's Studies and Women's Lit courses even today.
It was first published in 1973 and I believe was the first of its kind. It was originally subtitled "An Anthology of Poems by Women." It was reprinted in 1993 with the subtitle "An Anthology of 20th Century American Women Poets," which is inaccurate. It was expanded by 160 pages to include women of the later part of the 20th Century. Really there should have been a Part 2 of equal length to the first considering how many women were publishing in the later part of the 20th Century and the opportunity to feature later work of some of the same poets found in both volumes.
I checked out reviews of this neglected volume, the 1993 version, on amazon and saw one person complain (in 2002) that it didn't include any poets born after 1960. This is a valid complaint particularly because the first volume included poems by women in their 20s. So in 1993 there should easily have been some worthy younger poets. But in the intervening years the youth culture of the 60s had waned enough that it's was rare for poets under 40 (if that) to be given any importance.
So, about the 1973 volume that I read. It starts with Amy Lowell and ends with a series of young poets (youngest born 1952). Most of those young poets didn't go on to make have an extended literary career but this volume is attempting multiple objectives, to represent women poets, women lives, and their place in history. As such it brings all sorts of women poets together, regardless of style of poetry, mood of poetry, subject matter, etc. In the end you have a volume of equal value as a book of poetry and a book of history. There were several times that I looked up either the poet or what the poet was writing about and learned something new. Is it perfect? No. But it should remain in print until something more perfect is created and I thing that "more perfect" would be including more rather than eliminating anything.
Florence Howe (who the NYT called "the mother of Women's Studies" for her 2020 obit), who edited both versions, was a teacher of Women's Studies and Lit, so it's not surprising that this volume covers so many bases. It's also not surprising that a 2007 review of the book is by a teacher who says she (I assume) uses it with her college freshman and sophmores, adding that she thinks many of the poems could be used in high school as well. I would add that it would be a wonderful book to get a daughter.
So here's a partial list of the 87 poets included just to give you a feel for the range--and who is not left out that often is.
Gertrude Stein
Edna St. Vincent Millay
Phyllis McGinley
Muriel Rukeyser
Ruth Stone
Margaret Walker
Medeline DeFrees
Grace Paley
Vassar Miller
Colette Inez
Diane DiPrima
Marge Piercy
Margaret Atwood
Judy Grahn
Susan Griffin
Rita Mae Brown
Alice Walker
Ann Gottlieb
Among those you might expect to see:
Louise Bogan
Gwendolyn Brooks
May Swenson
Denise Levertov
Carolyn Kizer
Maxine Kumin
Anne Sexton
Adrienne Rich
Sylvia Plath
Audre Lorde
Lucille Clifton
And then there's the treat of reading the biographies of these folks at this point in their careers.
I came away with Helen Adam, who was a poet of spooky ballads. I had no idea she existed. In 2021 some of her work, including the two poems in this volume were collected with a forward by Annie Finch, so she wasn't forgotten by others. I was also reminded of Phyllis McGinley, whose work I'd read at our public library (which has since stripped its poetry selection) and enjoyed its humor. I may also take a more serious look at June Jordan, who has never really interested me before. Perhaps what is normally anthologized by her is less edgy than what appeared in this book.
As always, the final question is: am I keeping this book I'm praising and advocating for continual printing? No. Because I absolutely want someone else to find this and read it. It will perhaps be my most subversive community seeding yet. It needs to keep circulating.
It was first published in 1973 and I believe was the first of its kind. It was originally subtitled "An Anthology of Poems by Women." It was reprinted in 1993 with the subtitle "An Anthology of 20th Century American Women Poets," which is inaccurate. It was expanded by 160 pages to include women of the later part of the 20th Century. Really there should have been a Part 2 of equal length to the first considering how many women were publishing in the later part of the 20th Century and the opportunity to feature later work of some of the same poets found in both volumes.
I checked out reviews of this neglected volume, the 1993 version, on amazon and saw one person complain (in 2002) that it didn't include any poets born after 1960. This is a valid complaint particularly because the first volume included poems by women in their 20s. So in 1993 there should easily have been some worthy younger poets. But in the intervening years the youth culture of the 60s had waned enough that it's was rare for poets under 40 (if that) to be given any importance.
So, about the 1973 volume that I read. It starts with Amy Lowell and ends with a series of young poets (youngest born 1952). Most of those young poets didn't go on to make have an extended literary career but this volume is attempting multiple objectives, to represent women poets, women lives, and their place in history. As such it brings all sorts of women poets together, regardless of style of poetry, mood of poetry, subject matter, etc. In the end you have a volume of equal value as a book of poetry and a book of history. There were several times that I looked up either the poet or what the poet was writing about and learned something new. Is it perfect? No. But it should remain in print until something more perfect is created and I thing that "more perfect" would be including more rather than eliminating anything.
Florence Howe (who the NYT called "the mother of Women's Studies" for her 2020 obit), who edited both versions, was a teacher of Women's Studies and Lit, so it's not surprising that this volume covers so many bases. It's also not surprising that a 2007 review of the book is by a teacher who says she (I assume) uses it with her college freshman and sophmores, adding that she thinks many of the poems could be used in high school as well. I would add that it would be a wonderful book to get a daughter.
So here's a partial list of the 87 poets included just to give you a feel for the range--and who is not left out that often is.
Gertrude Stein
Edna St. Vincent Millay
Phyllis McGinley
Muriel Rukeyser
Ruth Stone
Margaret Walker
Medeline DeFrees
Grace Paley
Vassar Miller
Colette Inez
Diane DiPrima
Marge Piercy
Margaret Atwood
Judy Grahn
Susan Griffin
Rita Mae Brown
Alice Walker
Ann Gottlieb
Among those you might expect to see:
Louise Bogan
Gwendolyn Brooks
May Swenson
Denise Levertov
Carolyn Kizer
Maxine Kumin
Anne Sexton
Adrienne Rich
Sylvia Plath
Audre Lorde
Lucille Clifton
And then there's the treat of reading the biographies of these folks at this point in their careers.
I came away with Helen Adam, who was a poet of spooky ballads. I had no idea she existed. In 2021 some of her work, including the two poems in this volume were collected with a forward by Annie Finch, so she wasn't forgotten by others. I was also reminded of Phyllis McGinley, whose work I'd read at our public library (which has since stripped its poetry selection) and enjoyed its humor. I may also take a more serious look at June Jordan, who has never really interested me before. Perhaps what is normally anthologized by her is less edgy than what appeared in this book.
As always, the final question is: am I keeping this book I'm praising and advocating for continual printing? No. Because I absolutely want someone else to find this and read it. It will perhaps be my most subversive community seeding yet. It needs to keep circulating.
November 11, 2025
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.
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.
November 22, 2020
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.
October 16, 2021
An excellent anthology. Good selections, superb poet, and poems that are simply inspired.
May 17, 2022
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.
April 3, 2024
Great anthology!
Want to read
August 1, 2025Team owns Propaganda Poem: Maybe for Some Young Mamas by Ostriker, Alicia digitally.
October 16, 2013
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.
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.
June 21, 2008
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.
September 29, 2007
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.
May 30, 2008
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.
November 12, 2008
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.
May 18, 2023
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.
My two favorite poems? "Gift for my Mother's 90th Birthday" by Maude Meehan and "The Suburb" by Anne Stevenson.
December 6, 2010
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.
August 14, 2007
i used this anthology as the basis of my high school thesis. a great book for the shelf.
August 25, 2007
this book started it all for me, back in the early 90's . . . content of different editions varies significantly.
February 9, 2008
My favorite collection of poetry!! The best!
August 2, 2008
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.
July 9, 2010
An important collection but not as good as the earlier edition.
July 9, 2010
This brings back a memory or two!
April 15, 2011
Wonderful anthology of women's poetry - giving you a wide ranging taste so you can zero in on the voices you like.
August 14, 2012
Thought provoking, heart wrenching, and a celebration of the passions of women.
Favorites:
"Heirloom"
"Notes from the Delivery Room"
"Winter Song"
Favorites:
"Heirloom"
"Notes from the Delivery Room"
"Winter Song"
May 27, 2013
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.
January 25, 2009
A must have. Many wonderful ports, and terrific annotations.
July 19, 2011
This is probably my favorite poetry anthology. So many incredible female poets in one place.
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September 22, 20132 copies
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews