First published 2015
Delany examines the written word through multiple literary lenses. This collection brings together poetry, fiction, and narrative nonfiction that centers on books themselves. The pieces explore historic volumes, forbidden texts, repurposed manuscripts, mistranslated works, imaginary libraries, lost documents, and life-changing reads. Delany constructs a literary repository of ideas about language and books across all their manifestations. Each piece investigates how books function as vessels for human thought and expression. The collection treats books not just as objects but as living entities that shape readers and societies. Delany moves between different forms of writing to capture the multifaceted nature of books and their relationship to language, creating a meditation on literacy, literature, and the power of the written word.
Genres: literary-criticism, literary-fiction, books-about-books, academic
Vibes: intimate, lyrical, thought-provoking
Tropes: meditative, philosophical
421 pages · Kindle Edition · Conjunctions