The Golden Book of Words

Synopsis

First published in 1978 and long unavailable, The Golden Book of Words returns in a new edition from New Directions, bringing one of Bernadette Mayer's most celebrated early collections back into print. Restless, funny, intimate, and formally adventurous, these poems capture Mayer at her most inventive, moving effortlessly between the everyday and the philosophical with a voice that is unmistakably her own. A landmark of American experimental poetry, this collection remains as fresh and surprising today as when it first appeared.

About the Author

Bernadette Mayer (1945–2022) was an American poet, writer, and artist whose work helped redefine contemporary poetry. Associated with the New York School and the experimental poetry movement, she produced an extraordinary body of work spanning more than five decades. Celebrated for her wit, radical imagination, and fearless approach to language and form, Mayer remains one of the most influential poets of her generation.

Publisher
New Directions

Publication Date
May 27, 2025

Format
Paperback

Pages
80

Subjects
Poetry · American Poetry · Experimental Poetry

ISBN
9780811239684