The life of the famous poet, Mary Oliver

Mary Oliver, born in 1935, is an American poet and writer. She addressed herself as Mary.

The preeminent literary figure was known for her contributions to the National Book Award and Pulitzer Prize. Her works were greatly inspired by nature.

America admired Mary Jane as the most popular poet in 2007. Her works were unmatched and inspiring, given that her life revolved around solitary walks in nature.

Childhood, Education, & Marriage

Born on September 10, 1935, in Maple Heights, Ohio, to Edward Williams and Helen M. V. Oliver, Ms. Oliver, or Mary Jane Oliver, as she prefers to be called, is a native of the United States born and raised in her native land.

Growing up was hard for her. The world saw her interview with Maria Shriver in 2011, describing her family as dysfunctional. She also revealed that she was abused and molested by an unidentified family member.

At 17, Mary Oliver visited the home of Edna St. Vincent Millay, a Pulitzer Prize-winner poet. When she left the house, Oliver recalled that she couldn’t sleep peacefully for years due to recurring nightmares.

For six to seven years, Mary Oliver and Norma Millay spent their time going through the papers of Edna St. Vincent Millay together.

At age 15, Mary Oliver enrolled in the National Music Camp Interlochen, now Interlochen Arts Camp. There, she was in the percussion section of the National High School Orchestra.

Mary Oliver didn’t receive a degree at Ohio State or Vassar College, even though she was enrolled at both colleges.

Mary Oliver’s life in summary

In their mid-20s, Mary met her future husband. She married Molly Malone Cook, a photographer, and they had a happy marriage for forty years before he passed away.

Mary Oliver quotes, “I took one look [at Cook] and fell, hook and tumble.”

Molly Malone Cook was Mary Oliver’s agent. They often worked together in Provincetown, Massachusetts, until Molly Malone Cook passed away at 92.

Mary Oliver was very discreet about her personal life. She rarely talked about what it was like to be a mother or raise a family, as her priority was writing.

Learn about the cause of death for an American poet, singer, and Pulitzer Prize winner, Mary Oliver

All of Mary Oliver’s scans came back clean last year.