Product Description

"8 Rhythms and 5 Drawings," from 1915

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1934878 in Books
• Published on: 1994-10-01
• Format: Facsimile
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 48 pages

Customer Reviews

A lyrical upwelling of a very special woman's heart
This thin little book of poetry was the first published work of American author, artist and journalist, Djuna Barnes (1892-1982). If Ms. Barnes is remembered at all today, it is for her 1936 novel Nightwood, a study of women's relationships which was based on her long-term affair with the sculptor Thelma Wood. But, in her own time, she was well known, and she influenced such luminaries as Truman Capote and Anais Nin.

This absorbing book was first published in 1915, and sold for fifteen cents! (Though demand quickly drove the price up to fifty cents, which was an astonishingly high amount for the time.) This book contains the original eight poems and five drawings, all by Ms. Barnes. I found the poems to be quite touching, being a window into Ms. Barnes thoughts on women. Is this a book of sapphist poetry? I can honestly say that I don't know. What I'm sure it is, is a lyrical upwelling of a very special woman's heart. I found these poems to be quite touching and thought provoking. I highly recommend it.