Until recently, if you asked someone what they knew about Robert Frost, they might describe seeing him on television, his white hair ruffled by the wind at JFK's inauguration. Or they might recall a poem of his they had learned in school. And to Middlebury professor of English John Elder, that's a good indication of Frost's legacy.

Frost's poems appear simple and accessible through his use of natural imagery and every-day speech. But, they are complex in both structure and meaning. Likewise, Frost's life - on the surface - appeared to be that of a fairly simple man. in fact, his life - as a poet, farmer and teacher - was full of conflict and contradiction.

Inspired by his mother's innovative ideas about education, and to augment his meager income as a poet, Robert Frost turned to teaching. Author Natalie Bober observes, his methods were unconventional.

Robert Frost's poetry is all about sense of place. He spent five years and many summers in Franconia, New Hampshire. It's one place where the poet's family, including his wife Elinor, was entirely happy, and that helped create a fruitful period.

One of Robert Frost's books of poetry is titled North of Boston. And just as his poetry is full of references to the region, so too is the region full of reminders of his life here. Author Natalie Bober and Frost's grandaughter Robin Fraser Hudnut talk of his family life in New England.

Listen to VPR's a five-part series on Robert Frost.  Hear interviews with scholars and readings from Frost's work.  Presented in collaboration with The Vermont Humanities Council's Vermont Reads program. 

We learn more about Robert Frost's life and writings in Vermont and New Hampshire. Then we visit with bestselling Barre author Jennifer McMahon, and we travel to Greensboro, where writer Wallace Stegner summered for more than 50 years.