"Millay is the poetic voice of eternal youth, feminine revolt and liberation, and potent sensitivity and suggestiveness. Her best and most representative themes are bittersweet love, sorrow, the inevitability of change, resignation, death, and ever-abiding nature." Robert Gale

One of the best known women authors of her time, as well as one of the better paid, Edna St. Vincent Millay had already become an accomplished writer before her graduation from Vassar. She was the first woman ever to be awarded the Pulitzer Prize for poetry in 1923, paving the way for the future of women writers. Her first book, Renascence and Other Poems, was published in 1917. The title poem, written in 1913, won Millay a scholarship to study at Vassar where many of her works, including plays as well as poetry were published in the Vassar Miscellany.

Shortly thereafter, Millay wrote A Few Figs from Thistles in 1920. One of her most widely quoted poems, "First Fig" was included in the book:

But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends -

"First Fig" is a perfect example of Millay's

I find some woman bearing as I bear

For a drowned woman's sake, and bring her back

Nor slumber nor a roof against the rain,

Women have loved before as I love now;

And no such summer as the one before.

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1617
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)