The Life of Robert Frost

The Life of Robert Frost presents a unique and rich approach to the poet that includes original genealogical research concerning Frost's ancestors, and a demonstration of how mental illness plagued the Frost family and heavily influenced Frost's poetry. A widely revealing biography of Frost that discusses his often perplexing journey from humble roots to poetic fame, revealing new details of Frost's life Takes a unique approach by giving attention to Frost's genealogy and the family history of mental illness, presenting a complete picture of Frost's complexity Discusses the traumatic effect on Frost of his father's early death and the impact on his poetry and outlook Presents original information on the influence of his mother's Swedenborgian mysticism

Acknowledgments ix List of Abbreviations and Author’s Note xi 1. The New England Frosts 1 2. Rebel Sons and Punitive Fathers 8 3. Strong Man’s Food and Swedenborgian Mysticism 18 4. “A Boy’s Will Is the Wind’s Will” 26 5. Reluctant Yankees 39 6. Monuments to After‐thought 55 7. “Precipitate in Love” 64 8. Adventures in the Great Dismal Swamp 80 9. From Riffraff to Harvard 93 10. Deaths of a Son and a Hired Man 104 11. Indoor and Outdoor Schooling 121 12. Hen Man in the Academy 134 13. To the Land of The Golden Treasury 148 14. The Lively Gallows 167 15. Victory at Home 180 16. Amherst Interval 202 17. Sense and Sensibility 217 18. A Home that Never Was on Land or Sea 230 19. Something beyond Conflict 240 20. Delivering Battle 251 21. Weddings, Divorces, and Funerals 261 22. A Survivalist’s Further Range 278 23. Elinor’s Final Ordeal 294 24. Inferno to Vita Nuova 302 25. A Biblical Job by a Witness Tree 320 26. Mercy for the Damned 332 27. Mr Frost Goes to Washington 344 28. A Brief Shining Moment with the Kennedys 361 29. Last Act on the Global Stage 376 Notes 390 Bibliography 415 Index 423