Readers of contemporary American poetry are hard pressed to find poets who successfully blend the traditional with the innovative, the mythical with the modern, the personal with the political, and the elements of history with the facts of the present. One who excels in merging these diverse discourses with style and skill is Rita Dove. Having forged a distinguished career over the past quarter century, Rita Dove has crafted work that stands as challenging yet accessible; fans of her poetry run the gamut from scholars to students to general readers.

Rita Dove�s interest and talent in the written word showed itself at an early age in a family atmosphere that placed a high value on academic achievement. Born on August 28^th

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First published 12 January 2005

Citation: Donohue, Cecilia. "Rita Dove". The Literary Encyclopedia. 12 January 2005.
[http://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=1303, accessed 20 November 2009.]