Category: Poetry

The 31 short stories, 49 poems, 2 novel excerpts, and 4 plays featured in this unique collection reaffirm the central place of women in the development of the genres of fiction, poetry, and drama. Prefaced by thought-provoking introductory comments, these works are grouped according to the life stages of women–childhood, adolescence, adulthood, old age, and death. As a result, large themes and unexpected concordances become apparent across the widely ranging times, places, cultures, and lifestyles of the women portrayed.

( Courtesy of Google Books,   472 pages )

This affordable, chronologically arranged anthology features more than 500 poems written between the eighth century and the present. Multiple works by major poets allow students to compare different poems by the same author. The overall theme of the book asserts that poetry is a crafted art that is either molded by, added to, or reacting against tradition. A Brief History essays throughout the book discuss the social and cultural contexts of poems, major developments in the history of poetry, and technical literary terms.

Ⓒ 2000 ISBN 9780395958247  Edition 6  595 Pages

A companion volume to the classic seller, When I Am an Old Woman I Shall Wear Purple, this collection illuminates the experiences of women, young and old, reflecting on the choices they have made. Whether exploring significant public events or small private choices, Sandra Martz again captures word portraits that resonate with authenticity from the tapestry of their lives. This absorbing collection eloquently reflects women’s choices, from a ten-year-old girl making a relationship decision to a grown woman who must choose whether or not to ‘burden’ her aging parents with the news that she is seriously ill, to a charmingly eccentric older woman who ‘would not change one stitch… not one stitch’ in the fabric of her life. Some speak of lost opportunities: ‘I wait too long; I watch the moment pass/till only ashes stir upon the grass’ or things they would do differently: ‘If I could begin again… let me begin again by being a better daughter’. More often, however, these women proclaim a sense ofsatisfaction with their lives and ‘would not change a single breathless moment’.This powerful and insightful collection features many talented contributors from Sandra Martz’s best-selling When I Am an Old Woman I Shall Wear Purple. Like that earlier volume, this bestseller is a perfect gift book because it speaks to readers of all ages and as the Los Angeles Times has declared, it is a gentle reminder that we still have time to change.

( Courtesy of GoodReads,   205 pages )

This enchanting collection of fiction, poetry, and photographs evokes the beauty, humor, and courage of women living in their later years. More than 1.7 million copies have been sold, thanks to its universal message of aging as a natural gift of life. Winner of the American Booksellers Book of the Year Honors Award (1991), and two Benjamin Franklin Awards: for design and content, literature (1988), and for excellence and innovation in marketing, literature (1992), When I Am an Old Woman I Shall Wear Purple has been applauded for its honest and inspiring approach to the much neglected topic of aging. When I Am an Old Woman I Shall Wear Purple has created a network of support and encouragement: the sixty-plus men and women whose work is included, the readers who have taken the time to share how the book has touched their lives, and the booksellers who have so graciously recommended it to buyers. Stories and poems such as Warning, Like Mother, Like Daughter, Love at Fifty, Near Places, Far Places, and Dear Paul Newman tell of the endearing moments of joy — and passion — to be found in the rich and varied world of midlife and beyond. This award-winning anthology has earned a word-of-mouth popularity because, as the Los Angeles Times said, the time is ripe for such a message.

( Courtesy of GoodReads,   180 pages )