From May Sarton's Well: Writings of May Sarton [Hardcover]

Royce Schade Edith (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 15, 1994

Poetry and prose quotations by May Sarton and black-and-white photographs by Edith Royce Schade are combined in this beautiful gift book. The framework comes from a quote by Sarton: The delights of the poet as turned out to be light, solitude, the natural world, love, time, creation itself. Each of these topics forms a chapter.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Schade took Sarton's statement of her delight "in light, solitude, the natural world, love, time, and creation itself" as an organizing principle for this volume, which combines selections from Sarton's writing with Schade's photographs. Many of the photographs depict the landscape of New England, where Sarton lives; however, as Schade notes, Sarton does not see herself as "a nature poet." In fact, she is a metaphysical poet for whom the "natural" world includes consciousness itself. Many of the photographs are too placid, having the familiar look of a New England calendar, to capture Sarton's complex view of her solitary, contemplative life: for this writer, "loneliness is the poverty of the self," and yet "solitude is the richness of the self." But since "at any moment solitude may put on the face of loneliness," solitude offers a delicate balance and a danger. Whether she is writing about nature or relationships, a tension exists between contemplation and engagement. Some sense of Sarton's "intimate order" does comes through-particularly in the casual, sometimes mundane photographs of the author and her home contained in the afterword.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

About the Author

May Sarton, born in Belgium and a long-time resident of New England, published her first poems at age seventeen. Ms. Sarton publish over fifty volumes including poetry, novels, journals, essays, letters and children's books. She died in York, Maine in 1995.

Edith Royce Schade is a professional portrait and illustrative photographer. Considering her camera an artistic tool, she uses photography to promote protection ofthe environment and other civic causes. She lives in Connecticut and Maine. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 156 pages
• Publisher: Goodale Hill Press (January 15, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0967384311
• ISBN-13: 978-0967384313
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 7.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,040,800 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

May Sarton is the pen name of Eleanore Marie Sarton (May 3, 1912 - July 16, 1995), an American poet, novelist, and memoirist. Her parents were science historian George Sarton and his wife, the English artist Mabel Eleanor Elwes. In 1915, her family moved to Boston, Massachusetts. She went to school in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and started theatre lessons in her late teens. In 1945 she met her partner for the next thirteen years, Judy Matlack, in Santa Fe, New Mexico. They separated in 1956, when Sarton's father died and Sarton moved to Nelson, New Hampshire. Honey in the Hive (1988) is about their relationship. Sarton later moved to York, Maine. She died of breast cancer on July 16, 1995. She is buried in Nelson, New Hampshire.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The poet and the photographer, February 22, 2001

By 

"danielinyaracuy" (San Felipe, Yaracuy Venezuela) - See all my reviews

This review is from: From May Sarton's Well: Writings of May Sarton (Hardcover)

How can we discover a poet? No recipe. We just go through the readings, the reflections. We are touched. We are not. In a way, this selection of writings from May Sarton shows us the personal discoveries that photographer Edith Royce Schade made. May Sarton had a rather eventful life. The daughter of Belgian immigrants, a woman with many dalliances, a demanding lover to her lesbian loves. But she also was an American, a long time resident of New England, a no-nonsense woman. And her poetry speaks to all of us, to the travels and trials of our lives. The choices of Ms. Royce Schade are excellent. The pictures that she took and selected to accompany the anthology are delicate, artistic, feminine, intimate. Her portraits of the aging Sarton show the strong woman that she was, fighting age but accepting it. Ms. Royce Schade divided her choices in 6 sections that reflect how as a photographer she was influenced by the writings. Light for the light of the image. Solitude for the solitude of the photographer behind her lens. The Natural World that the photographer observes. The Love for its subjects. The Time to observe them. And the Creation Itself. My favorite section, the one that moved me most was Solitude, the Solitude of the individual when all is said and done. It includes the wonderful poem on aging, "Gestalt at Sixty" and powerful photographs of the harsh New England winter landscapes. Rarely you will find such a personal and telling anthology, such a tender tribute. Simply superb.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sensitive photographs with selections of May's work, August 2, 1999

By 

Ruth Lathlean (Canberra, Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: From May Sarton's Well: Writings of May Sarton (Paperback)

I have read practically all May Sarton's books and really appreciated the beautiful selection of poems and prose linked with photographs that made her come alive in this book. I also am a photographer and the way photos were used was especially well done. I enjoyed this book a lot, perhaps a lot more than I thought I would. Can be dipped into time and time again.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is a gift for all seasons., September 4, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: From May Sarton's Well: Writings of May Sarton (Paperback)

From May Sarton's Well is beyond doubt one of my most favorite books. I keep it on my coffee table at all times and I have given it as a gift many times over. It is always gratefully received and treasured. One can look at the photos and read the words over and over and always find something new in them. Thank you Ms Schade.