Rita Dove specifically chooses these writers to be featured in her book because of the impact that they left on society. Each of these authors influenced American Literature one way or another. Not only having a great impact on Literature, but the time period as well. Showcasing an accurate description of life during the time period in which these authors were alive and active

Edna St Vincent Millary was an American poet and playwright  born in Rockland, Maine February 22, 1892. Edna’s parents divorced at the age of 8, and she was raised by her mother along with her younger sisters. In Millary’s family education and culture were valued as so Millary spoke six different languages along with studying the piano and theatre. Originally, Edna St Vincent Millary desire was to pursue a career as a pianist, however her music teacher discouraged her and Millary decided to be a writer. From 1906 to 1910, her works appeared in children magazine, St. Nicholas, and one of her prize poems was reprinted in a 1907 issue of Current Opinion. At the age 20, Millary entered one of her most popular works, Renascence, into a competition, in which it received no prize but was recognized when she released The Lyric year in november of 1912. Caroline B. Dow, a school director who heard Millay poetry and her music, encouraged that Millay should go to college. Millary went on to take several courses at Barnard College in spring of 1913, after that she went on to attend Vassar.

Edna St. Vincent Millary released many great works and in the year of 1923 she married Eugen Jan Boissevain in July. Although he was not familiar with the literary world, he still devoted his life to ensuring the success of his talented wife as well as full responsibility for nursing her to health. During the 1920’s Millary went on many reading tours arranged by her husband. Edna St. Vincent Millary was influenced by Robert Frost, acquainted with Ezra Pound as well, she went on to write many great sonnets. Sonnets who were inspired by her lover George Dillon, who was also an American poet, whom she was having an affair with. Inspired also by William Shakespeare, John Milton, William Wordsworth, Alfred Tennyson, Charles Dickens, Walter Scott, George Eliot, and Henrik Ibsen.

It is important to understand Edna St. VIncent Millary’s life because, not only eass her work very inspiring, her life helped bring about what of, what I consider to be, the most intriguing literary works, The Great Gatsby written by F. Scott Fitzgerald. The famous affair of Gatsby and Daisy is modeled by Millary and Dillon’s love affair. Like the character Tom in the novel, Millary’s Husband Boissevain also knew about the affair between the two lovers and as the story ends, The two never separated because of the mistresses. F. Scott Fitzgerald not only used her love affair to inspire Gatsby and Daisy’s relationship, the extravagance of her lifestyle was also used to inspire Gatsby’s reputation. Millary got caught up in the court case of two men accused of murder, as does Gatsby connection in the mob makes his character look suspecious, Edna is also credited for the famous parties because as Gatsby does in the novel. 

Edna St. Vincent Millary not only heavily influenced American Literature, she also made her footprint during the times that they were wriitng and publishing. She shedded light on important issues in society which is why Rita Dove choose to put them in her poetry book. The writing styles are unique, but the works are deeper than ju