Sarton, Eleanore Marie

▪ 1996

      ("MAY"), U.S. poet and author (b. May 3, 1912, Wondelgem, Belgium—d. July 16, 1995, York, Maine), explored the human condition, ranging from love and individual uniqueness to social justice and aging, in some 50 books. Her works include volumes of poetry, novels, screenplays, autobiographies, and journals. Though Sarton did not receive critical acclaim until late in her career, she gained a huge following among students and feminists as her reputation grew, largely by word of mouth. Sarton's family moved to England after the outbreak of World War I, and two years later they moved to the U.S., settling in Cambridge, Mass. Sarton's name was anglicized to Eleanor May Sarton. She became an actress with Eva Le Gallienne's theatre in 1929 and, when that company disbanded (1933), formed her own troupe, which lasted until 1936. Sarton then began to concentrate on her writing—she had had some sonnets published—and her first volume of poetry, Encounter in April, appeared in 1937. Her first novel, The Single Hound, followed in 1938 and another poetry volume, Inner Landscape, in 1939. She supplemented her income over the years by teaching, writing book reviews, scripting U.S. Office of War Information films during World War II, and lecturing at colleges and universities. After Sarton revealed her lesbianism in what was perhaps her best-known and most interesting book, Mrs. Stevens Hears the Mermaids Singing (1965), she became a U.S. cult figure in feminist circles. Later works include the journal After the Stroke (1988) and a collection of poems, Coming into Eighty (1992). Sarton was awarded some 18 honorary degrees and was a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

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