{"product_id":"9781440623417","title":"The Virgin of Bennington","description":"Shy and sheltered as a young woman, Kathleen Norris wasn't prepared for the sex, drugs, and bohemianism of Bennington College in the late 1960s\u003cb\u003e—\u003c\/b\u003eand when she moved to New York City after graduation, it was a case of out of the frying pan and into the fire. In this chronicle, Norris remembers the education she received, both formal and fortuitous; the influence of her mentor Betty Kray, who shunned the spotlight while serving as a guiding force in the poetry world of the late 20th century; her encounters with such figures as James Merrill, Jim Carroll, Denise Levertov, Stanley Kunitz, Patti Smith, and Erica Jong; and her eventual decision to leave Manhattan for the less-crowded landscape she described so memorably in Dakota. This account of the making of a young writer will resonate with anyone who has stumbled bravely into a bigger world and found the poetry that lurks on rooftops and in railroad apartments\u003cb\u003e—\u003c\/b\u003eand with anyone who has enjoyed the blessings of inspiring teachers and great friends.","brand":"Penguin Publishing Group","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47140096311536,"sku":"9781440623417","price":4.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9781440623417_p0.jpg?v=1763798664","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9781440623417","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}