The publication of the poem "Renascence" in 1912 marked the entry of Edna St. Vincent Millay into the American literary scene. Competing in a contest organized by The Lyric Year, her work attracted national attention, setting the trajectory for a career that spanned poetry, plays, translation, and librettos, ultimately securing her a place within the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
Early Development in Maine
Born in Rockland in 1892, she attended Camden Hills Regional High School. Her exposure to literature began at home, reading works by Shakespeare and Milton. By age 14, she demonstrated early proficiency in verse, securing the St. Nicholas Gold Badge. Her early work appeared in journals such as the Camden Herald and St. Nicholas before she moved to Poughkeepsie to enroll at Vassar College in 1913.
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Her time at Vassar College proved difficult due to the institution's restrictive social codes, which contrasted sharply with her previous lifestyle. Despite these tensions, she remained a prolific writer. Before graduation in 1917, she had already established her reputation through the 1912 Lyric Year contest. Although she placed fourth in that competition, the ensuing public discussion regarding the judges' decision catalyzed her early professional success.
Literary Recognition and Professional Output
Her professional portfolio included diverse forms of writing. In 1923, she became the first woman to receive the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry for her collection, "Ballad of the Harp-Weaver." Her creative output extended to plays like "Aria da Capo," written in 1919. Later in her life, she received the Robert Frost Medal in 1943 and a Fellowship of the Academy of American Poets in 1949.
Residence and Final Years
Following her university years, she lived in Greenwich Village, New York City, including a residence at 75½ Bedford Street. She maintained an active social and creative life in the city during the 1920s. She passed away in 1950 at the age of 58 in Austerlitz and was interred at Steepletop Cemetery.
Fast facts
- Born: 1892, Rockland, Maine
- Died: 1950, Austerlitz, New York
- Education: Vassar College
- Pulitzer Prize for Poetry: 1923
- Robert Frost Medal: 1943
- Notable work: Renascence
- Burial site: Steepletop Cemetery
Questions readers ask
What was Millay's most significant literary award?
She was the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1923 for her work, "Ballad of the Harp-Weaver."
Where did Millay live in New York City?
She resided in Greenwich Village, with recorded addresses including 75½ Bedford Street.
Achievements
- Pulitzer Prize for Poetry — 1923
- Fellowship of the Academy of American Poets — 1949
- Robert Frost Medal — 1943
- Notable work: Renascence
