Origins & Early Life

Sharon Olds (born November 19, 1942) is an American poet. She won the first San Francisco State University Poetry Center Award in 1980, the 1984 National Book Critics Circle Award, and the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry. She teaches creative writing at New York University and is a previous director of the Creative Writing Program at NYU. Sharon Olds was born, as Sharon Stuart Cobb, on November 19, 1942, in San Francisco, California, but was brought up in Berkeley, California, along with her siblings.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

She was raised as a "hellfire Calvinist," as she describes it. Her father, like his before him, was an alcoholic who was often abusive to his children. In Olds' writing she often refers to the time (or possibly even times) when her father tied her to a chair. Olds' mother was often either unable or too afraid to come to the aid of her children. The strict religious environment in which Olds was raised had certain rules of censorship and restriction.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Olds was not permitted to go to the movies and the family did not own a television, but her reading was not censored. She liked fairy tales, and also read Nancy Drew and Life magazine. By nature "a pagan and a pantheist," she...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Alexander Belyaev — Contemporary (Died in 1942) (1942): Pioneering Soviet science fiction writer, known as 'Russia's Jules Verne'
• Ama Ata Aidoo — Contemporary (Born in 1942) (1942): Pioneering Ghanaian writer, poet, and academician celebrated for feminist themes.
• Amitabh Bachchan — Contemporary (Born in 1942) (1942): Iconic figure of Hindi cinema, celebrated for versatility and enduring stardom.
• Alan J. Pakula — Shared historical date (11-19 · Died) (1998): American film director, writer, and producer known for political thrillers.
• Alexander I of Russia — Shared historical date (11-19 · Died) (1825): Emperor of Russia during the Napoleonic era, known for liberal reforms and military campaigns.
• Anita Roddick — Historical peer (Born in 1942) (1942): Pioneering activist and founder of The Body Shop, championing ethical consumerism.
• Aretha Franklin — Historical peer (Born in 1942) (1942): The "Queen of Soul," Aretha Franklin defined American music with unparalleled vocal power.
• Abby Wambach — Historical peer (Born in 1980) (1980): Iconic American soccer forward, celebrated for her goal-scoring prowess and longevity.
• Adande Thorne — Historical peer (Born in 1980) (1980): Trinidadian-American YouTuber, animator, comedian, and actor known as Swoozie.
• AB de Villiers — Historical peer (Born in 1984) (1984): Iconic South African cricketer, celebrated for his all-around batting genius.
• 1942 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1942
• November 19 (11-19) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on November 19