The Power of Adrienne Rich

A Biography

By: Hilary Holladay

Narrated by: Maggi-Meg Reed

The first comprehensive biography of Adrienne Rich, feminist and queer icon and internationally revered National Book Award winning poet.

Adrienne Rich was the female face of American poetry for decades. Her forceful, uncompromising writing has more than stood the test of time, and the life of the woman behind the words is equally impressive. Motivated by personal revelations, Rich transformed herself from a traditional, Radcliffe-educated lyric poet and married mother of three sons into a path-breaking lesbian-feminist author of prose as well as poetry. In doing so, she emerged as both architect and exemplar of the modern feminist movement, breaking ranks to denounce the male-dominated literary establishment and paving the way for the many queer women of letters to take their places in the cultural mainstream. Drawing on a wealth of unpublished materials, including Rich's correspondence and in-depth interviews with numerous people who knew her, Hilary Holladay digs deep into never-before-accessed sources to portray Rich in full dimension and vivid, human detail.

Comprehensive biography with objectivity and empathy.

The author provides excellent context for all parts of Rich’s life. I didn’t realize how much shared subject matter many of her contemporaries she’d with her. For example Audre Lorne’s writing and lecturing on gay men’s tendency toward sexual violence as being an expression of the patriarchy. Also, the many poets that wrote about Chile’s authoritative regime. I would have liked to know if Rich’s writing was original or an extension of conversations, especially with Lorde. Otherwise, it is a precise elimination of a great poet’s life the I enjoyed very much.

Coherent & Worthwhile

There was a point 2/3 into the book when I needed to take a break, as AR’s life was not light and breezy, and just listening to it described fills one with the intensity AR must have approached most, if not all, of her days.
A well written book, sometimes slightly repetitive and saccharin, Holladay imbues AR’s life with believable emotion and intelligence.
The narration is perfect.
One question: where the heck are the kids!? AR had three boys, but they are mentioned so rarely that it’s easy to come away forgetting she had any children at all. If this is done out of a concern for privacy, ok. However, AR’s role and responsibilities as mother could be immensely connected to her roles as poet, thinker, activist, lover & teacher. The exclusion is a notable omission, especially knowing AR aimed to illuminate the power of women in all its facets and complexities.
Enjoyed the book. Coherent & Worthwhile.

Superior scholarship that's easy to read

Ms. Holladay tackled a difficult subject. She directed criticism when needed. She made few excuses for Adrienne Rich’s challenging personality. She expertly analyzed her work. She provided multiple points of view on Ms. Rich at every stage of her life. She didn’t make big leaps based on the content of the source material. Her tone drew me in, and it never strayed from the perfect mix of scholarly and readable. In truth, there’s nothing I would change

Absorbing and enriching

I was alive during much of Adrienne Rich’s life, but was embarrassingly unaware of her. Hilary Holladay‘s engrossing biography chronicles the life of this brilliant woman responding to and influencing the culture and politics of her (and much of my) time. I can’t say I fully understand Rich’s poetry, but I am inspired to keep trying.

Accessible and scholarly

Good to see a biography of this important woman poet-many important women poets don't have one. Well-written, comprehensive, even-handed. Chronologically organized. Incorporates insights and memories collected in many interviews with Rich's still-living contemporaries. Narrator did an excellent job: straightforward reading that kept the text interesting without drawing undue attention to itself.