Diane Middlebrook facts for kids

Diane Helen Middlebrook (born Wood; April 16, 1939 – December 15, 2007) was an American writer, poet, and teacher. She taught at Stanford University for many years. She was famous for writing important biographies about poets Anne Sexton and Sylvia Plath. She also wrote about jazz musician Billy Tipton.

Early Life and Learning

Diane Helen Wood was born in Pocatello, Idaho. She was the oldest of three sisters. In 1945, her family moved to Spokane, Washington. She finished high school in 1957.

College and University

Diane wanted to be a poet and writer. She paid for her own college education. She first went to Whitman College in Washington. Later, she moved to the University of Washington in Seattle. She earned her first degree in 1961.

She then went to Yale University. She earned her Ph.D. in 1969. Her studies focused on American poets Wallace Stevens and Walt Whitman.

Teaching at Stanford

Diane Middlebrook started teaching at Stanford University in 1966. She began as an assistant professor. Over time, she became a full university professor. She also held leadership roles.

New Research Center

In the 1970s, Stanford started a new research center. It was called the Center for Research on Women. This center later became the Clayman Institute for Gender Research. It was one of the first centers like it in the country. Diane Middlebrook helped lead this center from 1977 to 1979. She also led Stanford's Feminist Studies Program from 1985 to 1988.

Awards for Teaching

Diane Middlebrook received many awards for her teaching. In 1977, she won The Dean's Award. In 1987, she received the Walter J. Gores Award. These awards recognized her excellent work as a teacher. She also received the Richard W. Lyman service award.

She left Stanford in 2002. She wanted to spend all her time writing. By then, she was a professor emerita, meaning she had retired but kept her title.

Writing Important Biographies

Diane Middlebrook loved writing biographies. She once said she liked that it took a long time. She enjoyed taking her time to research and write.

Anne Sexton's Story

In 1981, she was asked to write about the poet Anne Sexton. Diane started working on the book in 1982. The book was called Anne Sexton: A Biography. It was on The New York Times Best Seller list for eight weeks. Many people thought it was a very good book.

Sylvia Plath's Story

In 2003, she published another important book. It was about Anne Sexton's friend, Sylvia Plath. The book was titled Her Husband: Ted Hughes & Sylvia Plath, a Marriage. It became a Los Angeles Times bestseller. Many people thought it was one of the best books about the famous poets.

Other Writings

Diane Middlebrook also wrote many articles. These articles were about other writers like Robert Lowell and Philip Larkin. She also reviewed many different books. These books covered topics from Helen Keller to the history of modern clothing.

At the time of her death, she was writing a book about the Roman poet Ovid. Parts of this book were published in 2015. It was called Young Ovid: A Life Recreated. Diane Middlebrook was known for her honest and direct writing style.

Books by Diane Middlebrook

Biographies

• Anne Sexton, A Biography (1991)
• Suits Me: The Double Life of Billy Tipton (1998)
• Her Husband: Ted Hughes & Sylvia Plath, a Marriage (2003)

Poetry and Other Works

• Worlds Into Words: Understanding Modern Poems (1980)
• Coming to Light: American Women Poets in the 20th Century (1985)
• Selected Poems of Anne Sexton (1988)
• Gin Considered as a Demon (1983)

Awards for Her Books

Anne Sexton: A Biography was a finalist for two major awards. These were the National Book Award and the National Book Critics Circle Award. It also won a gold medal for nonfiction.

Suits Me won a Lambda Foundation Literary Award. Her Husband was a finalist for the Bay Area Book Reviewers Award. In 2006, its French translation won a special award in France.

Personal Life

Diane Middlebrook was married three times. She had one daughter, Leah Middlebrook, born in 1966. Leah also became a university professor. In 1977, Diane started a relationship with Carl Djerassi. They married in 1985.

Diane retired in 2002. She and Carl spent time in their homes in San Francisco and London. She had surgery for cancer in 2001 and 2004. She passed away in San Francisco, California, on December 15, 2007, at age 68. She kept working almost until her death.