Repulsive Women

The Book of Repulsive Women, by Djuna Barnes

I found this free on the Green Integer site. In the foreword, Douglas Messerli describes the publication backstory. Also the importance for Barnes of images and how they interacted with her writing.

The five drawings in this work were originally published together at the back, but Messerli decided to publish them on the facing pages of related poems. He matched up the art and the poems. The match was subtle, different people might make different choices.

I found the artwork grubby and overly black. But the poetry is even now a bit shocking and fresh. I especially liked “Twilight of the Illicit.”