Devotions: The Selected Poems of Mary Oliver was published by Penguin Press in 2017. Oliver selected and arranged the poems herself, drawing from across her entire career (1963–2017) but organizing them not chronologically but thematically — as a single sustained arc of attention.
The book sold enormously — over a million copies — partly because of Oliver’s existing popularity and partly because the compilation format made her accessible to readers intimidated by individual collections. All the famous poems are here: “The Summer Day,” “Wild Geese,” “The Journey,” “When Death Comes,” “In Blackwater Woods.” But the arrangement reveals connections invisible in the original collections: how a poem about a heron in 1980 speaks to a poem about grief in 2006, how the early nature observation deepens into late-life prayer.
Oliver was already ill when Devotions appeared (she died in January 2019). The book functions as a summing-up — her version of a “collected” that is also a new work, its arrangement constituting a final creative act. For collectors, it is less valuable than the original first editions of individual collections, but for readers it is the single essential Oliver volume.
Collecting Devotions
First edition (Penguin Press, 2017): Hardcover with dust jacket.
Market values:
- First edition, fine/fine: $30–$60
- Very good: $15–$30
- Signed copies (rare, Oliver was reclusive): $200–$500
Projected values (2026–2036): Moderate appreciation. Definitive collection.
The Selected Poems
Devotions (2017) is Oliver’s self-curated selection from her entire career — over two hundred poems drawn from more than a dozen collections. Published by Penguin Press, it became a massive bestseller, introducing Oliver to a new generation of readers. The selections emphasize the spiritual and contemplative dimensions of her work. Because Oliver personally chose and arranged the poems (rather than a publisher compiling a “selected”), Devotions has the status of a definitive statement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this the best place to start with Oliver? Yes — if you want a single volume that spans her career, Devotions is the obvious choice. For a deeper dive into her strongest period, start with Dream Work or House of Light.