an autobiography in red

Literature & Fiction

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Autobiography of Red: A Novel in Verse Hardcover – March 31, 1998

Print length 149 pages
Language English
Publisher Knopf
Publication date March 31, 1998
Dimensions 6.5 x 0.75 x 9.25 inches
ISBN-10 0375401334
ISBN-13 978-0375401336
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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com review, from library journal, from booklist, from the inside flap, about the author, product details.

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Knopf; First Edition (March 31, 1998)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 149 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0375401334
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0375401336
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 13.6 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.5 x 0.75 x 9.25 inches
#1,069 in Epic Poetry (Books)
#5,209 in American Poetry (Books)

About the author

Anne carson.

Anne Carson was born in Canada and teaches ancient Greek for a living. Her awards and honors include the Lannan Award, the Pushcart Prize, the Griffin Trust Award for Excellence in Poetry, a Guggenheim fellowship, and the MacArthur “Genius” Award.

Customer reviews

5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 5 star 74% 13% 9% 1% 2% 74%
5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 4 star 74% 13% 9% 1% 2% 13%
5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 3 star 74% 13% 9% 1% 2% 9%
5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 2 star 74% 13% 9% 1% 2% 1%
5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 1 star 74% 13% 9% 1% 2% 2%

Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.

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Customers say

Customers find the thoughts in the book striking, poetic, and creative. They describe the writing style as phenomenal, carefully written, and brilliant. Readers describe the book as amazing, a nice summer read, and impressive. Opinions are mixed on the heartbreaking aspect, with some finding it sad and chaotic, while others say it's silly and pathetic.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Customers find the thoughts Carson captures striking, precise, and poetic. They also describe the book as interesting, creative, and mind-blowing. Readers appreciate the fine juxtaposition between contemporary storytelling and ancient myth. They say it's a beautiful, wrenching novel in verse.

"...highly enough, to any reader who wants to read a delicate story in a challenging format ." Read more

"This is poetry, in that it is beautiful and uses words ever-so carefully, but this is prose, in that it reads as easily as a novel and tells an..." Read more

"...and all those pictures and moments and thoughts Carson captures are striking and precise...." Read more

"Such a mystical, strange , and wonderful book of poetry. Anne Carson is definitely one of my favorites because of this work." Read more

Customers find the writing style phenomenal, carefully written, and evocative. They also say the language itself is a miracle. Readers also mention the descriptions and similes are exquisite.

"...The book is beautifully written , and cannot be recommended highly enough, to any reader who wants to read a delicate story in a challenging format." Read more

"This is poetry, in that it is beautiful and uses words ever-so carefully , but this is prose, in that it reads as easily as a novel and tells an..." Read more

"This book was so beautiful! The language itself is a miracle and all those pictures and moments and thoughts Carson captures are striking and precise..." Read more

"...This should be your first anne carson book, a testament to the evocative power of words ." Read more

Customers find the book amazing, terrific, and impressive. They say it reads as easily as a novel and tells an engaging story.

"...uses words ever-so carefully, but this is prose, in that it reads as easily as a novel and tells an engaging story...." Read more

"...Alice Munro captured the sentiment best: " this book is amazing -- I haven't discovered any writing in years so marvelously disturbing."" Read more

"... It’s absolute perfection . That’s really all you can say about it. It. Is. Perfect." Read more

"...in that the language was more spare and more powerful, and much more effective than prose would have been...." Read more

Customers have mixed opinions about the book. Some mention it's moving, sad, and chaotic. Others say it's silly and pathetic.

"...The book is sad and chaotic and breaks your heart with beauty and emotion...." Read more

"...In fact, it is not even funny but rather silly and pathetic when Carson writes at one point that Geryon wiped his tears with his wings..." Read more

"...is amazing -- I haven't discovered any writing in years so marvelously disturbing ."" Read more

"...It is heartbreaking and beautiful, like a dream." Read more