By Belen Quellet
Retired journalist and Falls Church resident Sara Fitzgerald, acclaimed for both her novel and biography about Emily Hale—the woman behind Nobel-Prize-winning poet T.S. Eliot—recently presented her latest book, “The Silenced Muse,” at One More Page Books. This marks Fitzgerald’s second appearance at the bookstore, having previously launched her first book on Hale there.
Fitzgerald’s fascination with Emily Hale began in 2015 while researching T.S. Eliot’s poem “Burnt Norton.” Hale, Eliot’s lover and confidante, had a significant influence on his work, though she is not directly mentioned in the poem. The themes of time, memory, and human experience in “Burnt Norton” resonate with the emotional depth of Hale’s relationship with Eliot, which profoundly impacted his poetry.
Curiosity about Hale’s role in Eliot’s life led Fitzgerald to delve deeper into her story. Despite Hale’s pivotal role in Eliot’s life and work, she was often overlooked. Fitzgerald’s initial exploration, “The Poet’s Girl,” depicted Hale’s life through fiction, but Fitzgerald’s recent work aims to provide a comprehensive biography of Hale, shining a light on her own achievements and struggles.
On September 12, Fitzgerald discussed “The Silenced Muse” at One More Page Books, a significant event where she spoke about her research after the long-awaited opening of 1,131 letters Eliot wrote to Hale from 1930 to 1957. These letters, released in 2020 after a fifty-year embargo, prompted Fitzgerald to craft a traditional biography, unveiling Hale’s previously obscured side of the relationship. This development was a major turning point in Fitzgerald’s research, providing new insights into Hale’s influence and experiences.
The event featured a conversation with Diana P. Parsell, author of “Eliza Scidmore: The Trailblazing Journalist Behind Washington’s Cherry Trees,” Both Fitzgerald and Parsell, former journalists and Falls Church residents share a passion for illuminating the lives of overlooked women. Their bond was strengthened through their participation in the Women’s History discussion group at the Library of Congress, a forum dedicated to exploring and celebrating women’s contributions to history.
A pivotal moment for Fitzgerald came when she realized inaccuracies in her novel about Hale’s awareness of Eliot’s feelings. The title “The Silenced Muse” reflects Eliot’s attempts to suppress Hale’s significance and deny their relationship. Despite this, Fitzgerald argues that Hale was crucial to both Eliot’s personal life and his poetry, deserving recognition for her own contributions and sacrifices.
Lyndall Gordon, a biographer of T.S. Eliot, acknowledges that while Hale is not explicitly mentioned in “Burnt Norton,” the poem’s introspective nature mirrors the emotional journey influenced by Hale. Fitzgerald’s biography seeks to give Hale the recognition she deserves, highlighting her achievements beyond her relationship with Eliot. Gordon’s perspective reinforces the notion that Hale’s presence in Eliot’s life was far more significant than previously understood.
Emily Hale was a trailblazer in her own right. In 1922, she led the Wisconsin Players’ production of “Miss Lulu Bett,” the first play written by a woman to win the Pulitzer Prize. This achievement underscores Hale’s role as a pioneering figure in the arts, showcasing her talent and determination. Despite her significant contributions, Hale faced numerous hardships, including financial difficulties after her father’s death. Eliot, despite his connections, did not provide her with the support she needed, leaving Hale to navigate her career and personal challenges on her own.
Fitzgerald’s research into Hale’s life has been described as a “treasure trove,” uncovering various aspects of Hale’s acting and teaching careers. This exploration revealed the broader challenge of recovering women’s histories, often overshadowed by their male counterparts’ records. Fitzgerald’s work underscores the difficulty of finding and preserving women’s stories, particularly before the 1970s, when women were frequently identified by their husbands’ names. This historical context highlights the importance of Fitzgerald’s efforts in bringing Hale’s story to light.
Despite the exhaustion from completing her book, Fitzgerald enjoyed the process of biography writing, viewing it as a journey of discovery that resonates with her own life story. Eliot biographer Lyndall Gordon commended Fitzgerald for her “meticulous research” and for giving Hale the recognition she deserved throughout her life. Robert Crawford, another Eliot biographer, praised “The Silenced Muse” for its focused dedication and unique material, contributing valuable new insights to the field.
Fitzgerald hopes her work will continue to shed light on the struggles and achievements of past generations of women, inspiring readers and reflecting on her own life. “She was someone I could come to admire,” Fitzgerald remarks, emphasizing Hale’s lasting impact. Through her biography, Fitzgerald aims to ensure that Hale’s legacy is recognized and celebrated, highlighting the resilience and talent of a remarkable woman whose story deserves to be told.
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