Anne Sexton (November 9, 1928, Newton, Massachusetts – October 4, 1974, Weston, Massachusetts), born Anne Gray Harvey, was an American poet and writer. On October 4, 1974 Sexton was having lunch with Maxine Kumin to review her most recent book, The Aweful Rowing Toward God. Then without a note or any warning to anyone she went in to her garage, started the ignition of her car, and died of carbon monoxide poisoning.