Eavan Boland was a legendary poet who was born in Dublin, Ireland. She emerged as one of the foremost female voices in Irish literature. Her poetry is known for subverting traditional constructions of womanhood as well as offering fresh perspectives on Irish history and mythology. Over ten volumes of poetry were written by her. Eavan Boland was an honorary member of the Royal Irish Academy and a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. She received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Irish Book Awards among many other honors. The remarkable work she created addressed themes seldom found in the world of Irish poetry and won her many accolades. Also a college professor, she taught at Stanford University, beginning in 1996. In Stanford she directed the creative writing program for over two decades. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 she moved back to Dublin to settle into her hometown during the lockdown. Sadly she passed away of a stroke in her Dublin home in April of 2020. This State of the Arts podcast episode is in honor of one of Irish literature's most influential writers.
