Sara Teasdale, once the best-loved poet in America during the 1920s, has largely faded from public memory, with most people only familiar with her early sentimental verse. However, William Drake's biography seeks to restore her unique contribution to American letters, exploring the intricate relationship between her poetic craft and her often tumultuous life. This comprehensive and thought-provoking biography aims to secure Teasdale a permanent, albeit small, niche in the history of American poetry.
Katha Pollitt of The New York Times Book Review praises the biography, stating, "Teasdale herself could not have wished for a better biographer than William Drake." Pollitt also notes that Teasdale is a good poet, if not a great one, surpassing her contemporaries like Vachel Lindsay and Carl Sandburg. Cheryl Walker adds that Drake's work is "a sensitive, readable, intelligent perspective on a poet whose work influenced writers like John Berryman, Louise Bogan, and Sylvia Plath." Walker commends Drake for his candid approach and for providing valuable insights into the attitudes toward women poets during the 1910s and 1920s, thereby illuminating the American poetic scene in new and wonderful ways.
Rita Ingram Givens from the San Francisco Examiner describes the biography as "profoundly moving," highlighting its focus on one of America's foremost lyric poets and women artists. Through Drake's meticulous research and engaging narrative, readers gain a deeper understanding of Sara Teasdale's life and legacy, ensuring her rightful place in the annals of American poetry.