Nightwood – Djuna Barnes
This modernist masterpiece portrays the lives of several American and European 'déracinés' (the uprooted) in the Paris, Vienna, and Berlin of the 1920s.
With an introduction by T.S. Eliot.
Hardcover
Nightwood is a poetic and complex novel revolving around a group of lost souls during the interwar period. At its center are the mysterious and elusive Robin Vote and the desperate love Nora Flood cherishes for her. The eccentric Dr. O’Connor serves as a philosophical guide through this labyrinth of desire, loneliness, and identity. Djuna Barnes employs a style that balances between prose and poetry; the book does not rely on a linear plot, but rather on an intense, melancholic atmosphere and profound psychological reflections. The work explores themes such as queer relationships and existential alienation in a manner that was unprecedentedly daring for the early 20th century.
(Inspired by Barnes' own turbulent relationship with the artist Thelma Wood)
Condition & Specifications
Condition: The dust jacket shows some signs of age and wear, but otherwise a very fine copy.
Binding: Hardcover with dust jacket.
Special features: Includes an introduction by T.S. Eliot.
Edition: 1979.
ISBN: 0571067638
Historical Context & Reception
Nightwood is universally considered one of the most important pillars of literary modernism. In Paris, Djuna Barnes was part of the avant-garde circle that included James Joyce and T.S. Eliot. The latter was so impressed by the manuscript that he wrote the introduction and assisted with its publication. Although the book is often regarded as "difficult" due to its symbolic language and philosophical monologues, it is praised for its unparalleled imagery. The novel is partly inspired by Barnes' own turbulent relationship with artist Thelma Wood, giving the work a raw, personal urgency.
About the Author
Djuna Barnes (1892–1982) was an American writer and journalist who played a key role in the Parisian expatriate community. Her work is permeated with a fascination for the shadows of the human soul and the complexity of sexuality and identity. Barnes was a singular voice who relentlessly broke open conventional narrative structures, exerting a lasting influence on modern literature.
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Product Information
Language: English
Pages: 260
Dimensions: 20.5 x 13.5 x 2.1 cm
Publisher: Faber and Faber, London - Boston
Categories: World Literature, Modernism, LGBTQ+ Classics
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