"Drawing on the private archives of the poet's estate, personal journals, and interviews with members of Lorde's family, friends, and lovers, De Veaux asserts the cultural legacy of a woman who personified the defining civil rights struggles of the twentieth century. Lorde has become a symbol of literary success in American culture, not only for black women but also for African American artists, first-generation immigrants, feminists and lesbians, and cancer survivors. This biography is remarkable not just for being the first of its kind but also as an inspirational story of a courageous and truly free thinker, who made her voice heard despite the overwhelming majority and who left an indelible mark on American society. De Veaux pays homage to this warrior poet by detailing her strengths and her frailties, the humanity behind the icon."--BOOK JACKET.