Although best known as a poet, Adrienne Rich is a versatile critic and a gifted writer of nonfiction and critical theory. Writing in the oracular tradition of Whitman and Dickinson, she affirms the will to change as an enduring commitment in her life and poetry. One of America's most outspoken literary figures, her courage in speaking out against injustice in the United States and worldwide has earned her the kind of international political following few American poets enjoy. This book is a much-needed comprehensive study of her life and career. The volume covers the full progression of her poetry from the beginning through her most recent work. It clarifies her entire poetic output and illuminates her concepts of nation, the female body, power, and women's sexuality. In doing so, it draws on a vast body of literary, theoretical, and cultural scholarship. While the book offers a thorough study of Rich and her works, it also examines the critical reaction that her controversial writings have engendered.