May Sarton (1912 - 1995)

May Sarton, born in Wondelgem, Belgium, as Eleanore Marie Sarton; her father George Sarton, a Belgian historian of science, and her mother the English artist Mabel Elwes Sarton. The family left the country, when Germany invaded Belgium in 1914, and moved first to May's maternal grandmother who lived in Ipswich, UK. Another year later, they moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, where her father took up a post at Harvard. May went to the Shady Hill School, only founded in 1915 by Agnes Hocking and her husband, a so-called 'open air school'. May was strongly influenced by Agnes, daughter of the Irish Poet John Boyle O'Reilly, as her poetry teacher. May tells in an interview with the PARIS REVIEW that they were four pupils from school who met, read and discussed each other's poems. At the age of 17, five sonnets by May were already published in Poetry magazine, becoming the opening sonnets in her first book Encounter in April. But that's for later...

When graduating from high school, May decided against her parents' idea of going to university. She became an actress and joined the New York's Civic Repertory Theatre. Unfortunately, the company was dissolved after some years and her dream to run her own repertory theatre failed leaving her at a loss about her aims at the age of 26. Though she had refused to go along with her parents' wish at first, it's them who supported her in this difficult time. May recovered and turned her interest again to writing. As mentioned, her first book, Encounter in April was published in 1937 and over the years, May became a prolific writer with a wide variety of genres publishing a book of poetry and a novel by turns (Check again the interview at the PARIS REVIEW and you'll find out why). All in all, she produced 53 volumes of poetry, novels, journals, essays and children's books. For some time Sarton lectured at various colleges to support her writing, gaining great success with her striking and passionate personality. She also travelled regularly to Europe where she met Virginia Woolf and Elizabeth Bowen.
In 1965, things changed though: Sarton publishes her novel Mrs. Stevens Hears the Mermaids Singing, in which she is writing openly about her being lesbian. It wasn't the time yet. She lost various jobs and the critics turned to diminishing her previous work. Astonishingly, on the other hand, her readership expanded who turned to her for encouragement. Also Sarton's journals and her openness about her emotional life drew a growing group of readers, so as her Journal of Solitude, published in 1973. Additionally, times were changing and at universities Women's Studies gained more and more influence and May's work serious recognition. Nevertheless, reviews were often harsh and May suffered from self-doubt throughout her life, questioning her talent which almost stopped her writing at all in spite of various appointments and several honorary doctorate degrees. She admitted that her writing is far from innovative. Sometimes it seems that she is singularly focusing on her very private life but still her influence and bravery opened doors to many to lead a more complete life. In 1990, May suffered a severe stroke which left her unable to write. But her urge to communicate was stronger so she dictated her last journals, still celebrating her life and love even at an old age. In 1995 though, May succumbed to breast cancer.

Please take your time and read the above mentioned interview in the PARIS REVIEW - it's really worth it and you'll learn a lot about this extraordinary author and her writing.