Anne Sexton

Anne Sexton (1928-1974) was an influential American poet known for her highly personal and confessional style of writing. Born Anne Gray Harvey in Newton, Massachusetts, she struggled with mental illness throughout her life, which deeply influenced her poetry. After a brief modeling career and an early marriage to Alfred Muller Sexton II, she began writing poetry as a form of therapy upon the recommendation of her therapist.

Sexton's work often explored themes of motherhood, mental illness, and her own experiences with depression and suicidal tendencies. Her first collection, "To Bedlam and Part Way Back" (1960), garnered critical acclaim and established her as a significant voice in contemporary poetry. She won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1967 for her book "Live or Die."

Sexton was a member of the confessional school of poets, a movement that included writers like Sylvia Plath and Robert Lowell, who also dealt with intense personal subjects. Despite her success, her personal life remained tumultuous, and she continued to struggle with mental health issues. She tragically took her own life on October 4, 1974, leaving behind a legacy of raw, honest poetry that continues to resonate with readers around the world.