"An expression of an extraordinary poet's life story in her own words, this book shows Anne Sexton as she really was in private, as she wrote about herself to friends, fellow poets, and students. Illustrated throughout with candid photographs and memorabilia, the letters - brilliant, lyrical, caustic, passionate, angry - are a consistently revealing index to Sexton's quixotic and exuberant personality."--Jacket.

"A Mariner book." Includes index.

Foreword / Linda Gray Sexton -- Editor's note -- Prologue: Young (1928-1957) -- The business of words (December 1957-September 1959) -- All her pretty ones (October 1959-December 1962) -- Some foreign letters (January-October 1963) -- Flee on your donkey (November 1963-May 1967) -- Transformations (May 1967-December 1972) -- To tear down the stars (January 1973-0ctober 1974) -- Epilogue.