Molly Peacock
Encyclopedia
Molly Peacock is an American-Canadian poet
, essayist and creative nonfiction
writer. She is an alumna of Binghamton University
.
, an extraordinary 18th century gentlewoman and a meditation on late-life creativity. Her latest book of poems is The Second Blush, love poems from a midlife marriage. She is a Faculty Mentor at the Spalding University
Brief Residency MFA Program.
Molly Peacock is also the author/performer of a one-woman show in poems, “The Shimmering Verge” produced by Louise Fagan
Productions.
She has published six collections of poetry, including Cornucopia: New & Selected Poems. Widely anthologized, her work is included in The Best of the Best American Poetry and The Oxford Book of American Poetry, as well as in leading literary journals such as the Times Literary Supplement, The New Yorker
, and The Paris Review.
Ms. Peacock is the author of a memoir, Paradise, Piece By Piece. Her essay on Mrs. Delany, “Passion Flowers in Winter”, appeared in The Best American Essays
. Other pieces appear in O: The Oprah Magazine, Elle
, House & Garden
, and New York Magazine. Molly Peacock is also the editor of a collection of creative non-fiction, Private I: Privacy in a Public World.
As President of the Poetry Society of America, Molly Peacock was one of the creators of the Poetry in Motion
program; coediting Poetry In Motion: One Hundred Poems From the Subways and Buses. She is also the Series Editor of The Best Canadian Poetry in English (Tightrope Books), as well as a Contributing Editor of the Literary Review of Canada
.
Currently, Ms. Peacock lives in downtown Toronto with her husband, Michael Groden. She keeps in touch with New York City
, her former home, by teaching at the 92nd Street Y
every February and March.
, Ingram Merrill Foundation, Woodrow Wilson Foundation
, National Endowment for the Arts
, and New York State Council on the Arts
. She was President of the Poetry Society of America from 1989 to 1995, and again from 1999 to 2001. She served as Poet in Residence at the American Poets' Corner, Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine from 2000 to 2005. Ms. Peacock was also Regents' Fellow at University of California, Riverside
and Poet in Residence at Bucknell University
and the University of Western Ontario
.
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
, essayist and creative nonfiction
Creative nonfiction
Creative nonfiction is a genre of writing that uses literary styles and techniques to create factually accurate narratives. Creative nonfiction contrasts with other nonfiction, such as technical writing or journalism, which is also rooted in accurate fact, but is not primarily written in service...
writer. She is an alumna of Binghamton University
Binghamton University
Binghamton University, also formally called State University of New York at Binghamton, , is a public research university in the State of New York. The University is one of the four university centers in the State University of New York system...
.
Career
Her latest work of nonfiction is The Paper Garden, at once a biography of Mary DelanyMary Delany
Mary Delany was an English Bluestocking, artist, and letter-writer; equally famous for her "paper-mosaicks" and her lively correspondence.-Early life:...
, an extraordinary 18th century gentlewoman and a meditation on late-life creativity. Her latest book of poems is The Second Blush, love poems from a midlife marriage. She is a Faculty Mentor at the Spalding University
Spalding University
Spalding University is a private, co-educational university affiliated with the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth and located in Louisville, Kentucky.-History:...
Brief Residency MFA Program.
Molly Peacock is also the author/performer of a one-woman show in poems, “The Shimmering Verge” produced by Louise Fagan
Louise Fagan
Patricia Louise Fagan is a Canadian director and producer. She is the founder of Louise Fagan Productions, located in London, Ontario.-Personal life:...
Productions.
She has published six collections of poetry, including Cornucopia: New & Selected Poems. Widely anthologized, her work is included in The Best of the Best American Poetry and The Oxford Book of American Poetry, as well as in leading literary journals such as the Times Literary Supplement, The New Yorker
The New Yorker
The New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
, and The Paris Review.
Ms. Peacock is the author of a memoir, Paradise, Piece By Piece. Her essay on Mrs. Delany, “Passion Flowers in Winter”, appeared in The Best American Essays
The Best American Essays
The Best American Essays is a yearly anthology of magazine articles published in the United States. It was started in 1986 and is now part of The Best American Series published by Houghton Mifflin...
. Other pieces appear in O: The Oprah Magazine, Elle
Elle (magazine)
Elle is a worldwide magazine of French origin that focuses on women's fashion, beauty, health, and entertainment. Elle is also the world's largest fashion magazine. It was founded by Pierre Lazareff and his wife Hélène Gordon in 1945. The title, in French, means "she".-History:Elle was founded in...
, House & Garden
House & Garden (magazine)
House & Garden was an American shelter magazine published by Condé Nast Publications that focused on interior design, entertaining, and gardening....
, and New York Magazine. Molly Peacock is also the editor of a collection of creative non-fiction, Private I: Privacy in a Public World.
As President of the Poetry Society of America, Molly Peacock was one of the creators of the Poetry in Motion
Poetry in Motion (arts program)
Poetry in Motion is an arts program collaborative which displays poems by prominent authors in advertising space on the buses and subways. The program was launched by New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the Poetry Society of America, based on the success of the Streetfare Journal...
program; coediting Poetry In Motion: One Hundred Poems From the Subways and Buses. She is also the Series Editor of The Best Canadian Poetry in English (Tightrope Books), as well as a Contributing Editor of the Literary Review of Canada
Literary Review of Canada
The Literary Review of Canada is a Canadian magazine that publishes ten times a year. The magazine publishes essays and reviews of books on political, cultural and social topics, as well as Canadian poetry...
.
Currently, Ms. Peacock lives in downtown Toronto with her husband, Michael Groden. She keeps in touch with New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, her former home, by teaching at the 92nd Street Y
92nd Street Y
92nd Street Y is a multifaceted cultural institution and community center located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in New York City, United States, at the corner of E. 92nd Street and Lexington Avenue. Its full name is 92nd Street Young Men's and Young Women's Hebrew Association...
every February and March.
Poetry
- And Live Apart, University of Missouri Press, 1980, ISBN 9780826202888
- Raw Heaven, Random House, 1984, ISBN 9780394539737
- Take Heart, Random House, 1989, ISBN 9780394575155
- Original Love, Lightning Source Inc, 1996, ISBN 9780393314663
- Cornucopia: New & Selected Poems, W.W. Norton, 2002, ISBN 9780393051230
Non-fiction
; Bloomsbury Publishing USA, 2011, ISBN 9781608195237- How To Read A Poem and Start A Poetry Circle, Riverhead Books, 1999, ISBN 9781573221283
- Paradise, Piece By Piece, Riverhead Books, 1998, ISBN 9781573220972
Honours
Ms. Peacock has received recognition from the Leon Levy Center for Biography (CUNY), Danforth FoundationDanforth Foundation
Danforth Foundation is one of the largest private non-for profit foundations in the St. Louis Metropolitan region. The foundation has 1.5 billion USD in assets as of 2003. Established in 1927 by Ralston Purina founder William H. Danforth and his wife, the Danforth Foundation grants funds...
, Ingram Merrill Foundation, Woodrow Wilson Foundation
Woodrow Wilson Foundation
The Woodrow Wilson Foundation was an educational non-profit created in 1922, organized under the laws of New York, for the "perpetuation of Wilson's ideals" through publications and support of research. Franklin D. Roosevelt was the national chairman, and there were local chairmen in each of the 48...
, National Endowment for the Arts
National Endowment for the Arts
The National Endowment for the Arts is an independent agency of the United States federal government that offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence. It was created by an act of the U.S. Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. Its current...
, and New York State Council on the Arts
New York State Council on the Arts
The New York State Council on the Arts is an arts council serving the U.S. state of New York. It was established in 1960 through a bill introduced in the New York State Legislature by New York State Senator MacNeil Mitchell , with backing from Governor Nelson Rockefeller, and began its work in 1961...
. She was President of the Poetry Society of America from 1989 to 1995, and again from 1999 to 2001. She served as Poet in Residence at the American Poets' Corner, Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine from 2000 to 2005. Ms. Peacock was also Regents' Fellow at University of California, Riverside
University of California, Riverside
The University of California, Riverside, commonly known as UCR or UC Riverside, is a public research university and one of the ten general campuses of the University of California system. UCR is consistently ranked as one of the most ethnically and economically diverse universities in the United...
and Poet in Residence at Bucknell University
Bucknell University
Bucknell University is a private liberal arts university located alongside the West Branch Susquehanna River in the rolling countryside of Central Pennsylvania in the town of Lewisburg, 30 miles southeast of Williamsport and 60 miles north of Harrisburg. The university consists of the College of...
and the University of Western Ontario
University of Western Ontario
The University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
.
External links
- Molly Peacock's Personal webpage
- http://www.facebook.com/pages/Molly-Peacock/110435242340065?v=photos&ref=sgm#!/pages/Molly-Peacock/110435242340065?v=info&ref=sgm/ Molly Peacock's Facebook Fan page
- http://rpo.library.utoronto.ca/poet/454.html Representative Poetry On-line
- http://www.poetrysociety.org/psa/poetry/blog/and_margaret_may_has_been_shelli/ Poetry Society of America blog
- http://www.bookslut.com/features/2004_04_001877.php Interview with Laura Leichum
- http://www.brooklynrail.org/2006/02/books/molly-peacock-with-david-varno Brooklyn Rail interview
- http://www.pifmagazine.com/2008/10/molly-peacock/ Pif Magazine interview
- http://thebestamericanpoetry.typepad.com/the_best_american_poetry/2009/01/the-homekid-and-the-prodigal-molly-peacock-on-canbrit-and-amcan-poems.html Best American Poetry blog: The Homekid and the Prodigal: Molly Peacock on CanBrit and AmCan Poems
- http://thebestamericanpoetry.typepad.com/the_best_american_poetry/2009/01/american-pool-or-canadian-lake-molly-peacock-on-poets-approaches.html Best American Poetry blog: American Pool or Canadian Lake: Molly Peacock on Poets' Approaches
- http://www.mcclelland.com/author/results.pperl?authorid=23432 McClelland & Stewart author page
- http://books.wwnorton.com/books/Author.aspx?ID=7612 W.W. Norton author page
- http://www.scribepublications.com.au/book/thepapergarden Scribe Publications author page
- http://www.graywolfpress.org/index.php?option=com_phpshop&page=shop.author&product_id=113&author_id=71 Graywolf Press author page
- http://www.spalding.edu/academics/mfa/mfa-faculty/#molly Spalding University faculty page
- http://www.pw.org/content/molly_peacock_2 Poets & Writers page
- http://www.poetryfoundation.org/archive/poet.html?id=5345 Poetry Foundation page
- Audio: Of Night read by Molly Peacock
- Audio: Molly Peacock reads "I Watched a Wonder, a Bright Marauder from The Word Exchange: Anglo-Saxon Poems in Translation
- Audio: Molly Peacock reads "The Flaw" from the book The Second Blush (via poemsoutloud.net)