Originally presented orally or published in feminist and literary journals, the essays in this collection explore the social and political context of Rich's life and art. Examining the connections between history and imaginations, ethics and action, Rich discusses the experiences of being white, female, lesbian, Jewish, and a U.S. citizen. In the title essay, she writes about the social and historical conditions of the making of poetry, and analyzes what happens to the heart of the artist in North America. Other pieces address racism, anti-Semitism, heterosexism, education, and literary criticism. The volume reveals how Rich is not only a major American poet, but a vividly compelling thinker and writer of eloquent prose.
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