Sara Teasdale published

in 1917 at the height of World War I. The volume’s fresh perspective on modern romance struck a chord with war-weary readers. Earlier publications, including

(1907),

(1911), and

(1915), had established Teasdale’s critical reputation. But

catapulted her to literary celebrity. Although book sales had fallen off sharply during the war,

reportedly sold more than two thousand copies in its first six months. Over the next two years, the collection was reprinted five times and, over the next decade, it went through fifteen editions.

In 1918, Love Songs was awarded the Columbia Prize for Poetry, the precursor to the Pulitzer Prize and the field’s highest honor. The volume

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Citation: Girard, Melissa. "Love Songs". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 08 August 2011 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=3819, accessed 21 November 2024.]

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