Born in Massachusetts, Sexton suffered from mental illness and severe depression throughout her life. After her second severe breakdown in 1955, Sexton’s doctor encouraged her to start writing poetry.

Sexton experienced early success with her poems, with publications in The New Yorker, Harper’s Magazine, and Saturday Review shortly after beginning her writing career. Her studies with Robert Lowell (alongside Sylvia Plath and George Starbuck at Boston University) were influential on her poetry.

As time progressed, Sexton continued to meet success with her work, encouraged poet Maxine Kumin, and eventually co-wrote four childrens books with her. She often collaborated with musicians and formed the jazz-rock group Her Kind. However, her depression became increasingly manic, and she took her own life in 1974.

–Christie Finn