Edna St. Vincent Millay: A Journey Through Life

Although the brief biographical information presented in this fine sampling of 20th century Pulitzer Prize winning lyric poet Edna St. Vincent Millay's work (1892-1950) doesn't mention her bisexuality or open marriage, one need only listen to the poems themselves to hear the libertine voice of a bold, somewhat naughty, life-affirming Vassar girl whose "candle burns at both ends" indeed. In fact, Millay, whose poetry was neither complex nor terribly original, would inspire contemporaries such as the acid-tongued Dorothy Parker with her real life antics as much as her words. Here, Valerie Harper joins the First Poetry Quartet in this episode from the Anyone for Tennyson? television series in reciting some twenty selections, ranging from "First Fig" ("my candle burns at both ends") and the affecting "Childhood Is the Kingdom Where Nobody Dies" to the saucy "Rendezvous" ("not for these lovely blooms that prank your chambers did I come") and several sonnets. My only quibble with the program is that the copyright date clearly states 2000, but the Anyone for Tennyson? series actually dates from the mid-'70s. Given the dearth of good, affordable video programming introducing viewers/listeners to fine poetry, this is recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (R. Pitman)