One of the most popular and influential poets writing today, Sharon Olds commands large and diverse audiences.  Focusing always on the personal, the interior, Olds' poetry ranges from the pleasures of the body to the anguish of individuals caught up in the cataclysms of twentieth-century history.  Among her many honors are the Lamont Poetry Prize, the National Book Critics Circle Award, and the Harriet Monroe Poetry Award.  She was recently named New York State Poet.

Hosted by: Women's Studies Program

In conjunction with: Graduate School of Library and Information Science, Department of English, Department of History, Department of Human and Community Development, Department of Speech Communication, Carr Visiting Writers Series, Illinois Program for Research in the Humanities, Institute of Communications Research, Office of Women's Programs, Unit for Criticism and Interpretive Theory, Unit One/Allen Hall