Love and Need: The Life of Robert Frost's Poetry offers a nuanced account of the poet's life and work. Adam Plunkett successfully combines a detailed biography of one of America’s greatest poets with literary criticism and analysis attempting to get to the truth of Frost's life. He reveals a new Frost through a careful and detailed look at the poems and people around him, both colleagues, friends and family.
Whether you are a life long fan of Frost or new to his work, this book is a must-read. I had previously only come across his perhaps most famous poem “The Road Not Taken” which I thought mistakenly had been titled “The road less travelled” but knowing more of his life have grown to understand and appreciate much more of his poetry.
The title “Love and need” is a good one as the book delves deeply into Frost's personal experiences, often reflecting on the pain and grief he experienced after the death and mental illness of family members. His poems explore themes of mortality, the fragility of life, the loss of innocence, and the enduring nature of love, its joys and frustrations.
Love and Need is a scholarly and insightful book which offers a fresh perspective on the poet's work, revealing the complexities of his life and the enduring power of his poetry.

My thanks to the publishers Farrar, Straus and Giroux, the author and Net Galley for providing a complimentary ARC digitally, for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

The first time I encountered Robert Frost was when I read "The Road Not Taken" in my high school textbook. Since then, I have been a devoted admirer of his work. Although I always wanted to read his biography, I never found the time, and I was concerned that reading about a writer's life might be dull compared to enjoying his poetry. However, this book is a dream come true! For the first time, I have come across such a meticulously drawn perspective on a poet and his craft.

Adam Plunkett has masterfully depicted Frost's narrative, capturing the events that influenced him to create such thought-provoking poems. The author made a commendable effort in his research, ensuring he gathered information from a wide array of sources, resulting in a well-rounded view. It seems he incorporated perspectives from all those who contributed to Robert Frost's development, knitting a narrative that reflects everyone's insights. The author is neither biased in his criticism nor overly generous in his praise of Frost's literary achievements.

Plunkett has employed articulate language and carefully crafted his writing style to resonate with Frost's poetry, making the reader feel a deep connection while reading both. Two of my favorite poems were included, and the accompanying analysis was beautifully done.

I couldn't find any grammatical errors or awkward sentences. I thoroughly enjoyed the book, and I greatly admire the author's dedication to its creation. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in gaining insights into America's most beloved poet and to those who appreciate Robert Frost's poetry.

A MUCH needed corrective to Lawrance Thompson's hatchet job. The literary criticism of Frost's poetry is thoughtful and fresh. While I don't always like biographer attempts to corelate art with specific moments in the artist's life, Plunkett makes a compelling case for the overlap between life and artistic creation. A fair treatment of a complex, and sometimes unlikable man who wrote some of the most quintessentially 'American' poetry since Walt Whitman