A rich, personal look at the life of May Swenson through the letters, journals, and photos left by the beloved poet herself and by those who knew her best. The portrait includes Swenson's childhood and adolescence in Utah, as well as her adult years on the New York writing scene. Over 160 photographs depict the range of places and times in which Swenson lived, and the many writers, editors, scholars, and family members who influenced her.

A number of her poems - some previously unpublished - appear throughout the text, and the short anthology at the end of the book includes a representative selection from the major phases of her life as a poet. In addition to the biographical material here, this anthology itself is an important addition to Swenson scholarship.