Gathered in this volume are a fascinating collection of letters between Robert Lowell and his wife Elizabeth Hardwick, plus others from their daughter, friends and acquaintances, including Elizabeth Bishop and Mary McCarthy. The letters track a particularly difficult period of 7 years in the lives of Hardwick and Lowell and constitute a searing account of love and loss, bringing to vivid life one of literary history’s most famous scandals. In 1970 poet Robert Lowell took up a teaching post at Oxford University, leaving his wife, Elizabeth Hardwick, and their 13-year-old daughter Harriet back in the States. At a party he met Anglo-Irish writer Caroline Blackwood and moved in with her that night. Hardwick had become used to Lowell’s unfaithfulness but this was different as he intended to stay in the UK and marry Blackwood. Lowell, self-absorbed and indifferent to the consequences of his actions, used some of these letters from Hardwick in his next collection of poetry entitled The Dolphin in which he depicted the breakdown of his marriage, to Hardwick’s great and lasting distress. The letters are moving, illuminating and endlessly fascinating. Lowell doesn’t come out looking at all good, and in contrast Hardwick seem a model of loyalty and restraint, and her concern for Harriet shines through. Collections of letters don’t always make for an entertaining read, unless you are already particularly invested in the correspondents themselves, but in this case I soon became so and thoroughly this scholarly and expertly annotated edition. A great read.

I can't imagine the wider public being all to interested in this book. That isn't to say they may not enjoy it, but I found that knowing the history between Hardwick and Lowell made this a far more enjoyable read. These letters were an interesting glimpse into a rather interesting duo with a roller coaster ride of a relationship within these years before the death of Lowell.

An eye opening intimate look into these authors lives through their intimate letters.A real life look at their private relations emotions daiky life.A terrific read a glimpse at the personal issues of authors we only know through their novels .#netgalley#fsg

Probably a bit too specialized for my lowly composition class, but like many other books I read through NetGalley, this is one I will be recommending to colleagues. It was extremely compelling and the letter were so intimate and authentic. It was like stepping into another time and getting to see people I respected as they seemed to others. Lovely.