Great Women of American Literature

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Shirley Jackson - totally underrated

Totally agree! I read a fascinating biography of her during the pandemic after my interest was piqued by the Hulu movie starring Elisabeth Moss. Like many folks I knew her primarily for her infamous short story The Lottery which I read in middle or high school. I’ve since read most of her stuff and hold her in great esteem- she has a lot to say about the situation for women in our society and endured all of those issues herself in a trying marriage to a man she loved who used her miserably.

The biography was excellent! Such an interesting life and you're so correct about her awful husband. She carried all the load in that family, was basically the breadwinner as well as organizing the kids while churning out some of the most creative work this country has ever seen. Some of her lighter fare was likely the forerunner of the umpteen million mommyblogs out there today.

[Anonymous]

Some that may not have been mentioned yet:

Anne Bradstreet
Phillis Wheatley
Sarah Orne Jewett
Charlotte Perkins Gilman
Elinor Wylie
H. D.
Marianne Moore
Edna St. Vincent Millay
Dorothy Parker
Louise Bogan
Lorine Niedecker
Elizabeth Bishop
Gwendolyn Brooks
Denise Levertov
Anne Sexton
Adrienne Rich
Adrienne Kennedy
Audrey Lorde
Bobbie Ann Mason
Ann Beattie
Leslie Marmon Silko
Denise Chavez
Rita Dove
Cathy Song

[Anonymous]

Octavia Butler

[Anonymous]

There are some great women writing now, too
I'd include Kiki Petrosino, Eileen Myles, Nicole Krauss,