May Sarton

Date of Birth: May 3, 1912

Zodiac Sign: Taurus

Date of Death: July 16, 1995

Biography

May Sarton, born Eleanor Marie Sarton, was an influential American poet, novelist, and memoirist. She was born on May 3, 1912, in Wondelgem, Belgium, and moved to the United States with her family in 1916 to escape the ravages of World War I. Sarton grew up in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where her father, George Sarton, was a pioneering historian of science, and her mother, Mabel Elwes Sarton, was an artist. Sarton attended Shady Hill School in Cambridge and later studied at the Cambridge High and Latin School. She decided to pursue a career in writing after spending a year in Europe following her high school graduation. Her first collection of poetry, “Encounter in April,” was published in 1937. Over the next several decades, Sarton produced numerous volumes of poetry, novels, and memoirs that often explored themes of loneliness, love, aging, and the search for identity. She is perhaps best known for her journals, including “Journal of a Solitude,” which provide intimate glimpses into her personal life and thoughts. Sarton lived much of her later life in York, Maine, where she continued to write until her death on July 16, 1995.

5 Interesting Facts about May Sarton

1. May Sarton’s work has often been described as pioneering in its exploration of feminist and LGBTQ+ themes.

2. She received various literary accolades, including a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts.

3. Sarton was openly lesbian and many of her works reflect her struggles and triumphs living as a lesbian in the 20th century.

4. She published more than 50 books over her lifetime, including poetry, novels, and memoirs.

5. Despite her literary success, Sarton often struggled with feelings of isolation and depression, themes that frequently appeared in her work.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from May Sarton

1. “Loneliness is the poverty of self; solitude is the richness of self.”

2. “We have to dare to be ourselves, however frightening or strange that self may prove to be.”

3. “A house that does not have one warm, comfy chair in it is soulless.”

4. “Each day, and the living of it, has to be a conscious creation in which discipline and order are relieved with some play and pure foolishness.”

5. “The most important thing is work. All that matters is that you do your job as best you can.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

May Sarton did not achieve significant financial wealth from her writing. Her highest net worth is estimated to have been modest, likely in the range of tens of thousands of dollars. She relied primarily on her book sales, fellowships, and occasional teaching positions for income.