Robert Lowell, Setting the River on Fire

In this Pulitzer Prize finalist study, best-selling author Kay Redfield Jamison explores the life and work of poet Robert Lowell, whose experience with bipolar disorder deeply influenced his writing. Drawing on unprecedented access to Lowell's medical records and unpublished works, Jamison examines how his manic-depressive illness shaped both his creative process and personal relationships. Through a blend of psychological insight and biographical detail, she presents a compelling portrait of a passionate artist who transformed the discourse surrounding mental illness in poetry.