Those who go on to read hejinian s finest work, however, will then turn to the book of a thousand eyes, which omnidawn brought out earlier this year. To achieve reality where objects thrive on peoples passions, enormous effort and continuous social. Though they may not be redemptive in effect, the diverse works that comprise the book of a thousand eyes argue for the possibilities of a merry, pained, celebratory, mournful, stubborn commitment to life. Book of a thousand eyes lyn hejinian omnidawn poetry. Written over the course of two decades, the book of a thousand eyes was begun as an homage to scheherazade, the. She is the author of of over twenty volumes of poetry and critical prose, including several poetry collections previously published by omnidawn. Nothing can quite prepare readers for the book of a thousand eyes, just out from omnidawn. Lyn hejinian is a poet, essayist, teacher, and translator. The book of a thousand eyes written over the course of two decades, the book of a thousand eyes was begun as an homage to scheherazade, the heroine of the arabian nights who, through her nightly taletelling, saved her culture and her own life by teaching a powerful and murderous ruler to abandon cruelty in favor of wisdom and benevolence. Hejinians book is a compendium of night workslullabies, bedtime stories, insomniac lyrics, nonsensical mumblings, fairy tales, attempts to understand at days end some.
Hejinians sallies are at once pragmatic, mysterious, and an utter delight to read. Lyn hejinian reads from the book of a thousand eyes as part of an event at the arrata opera house on march 10, 2011 in calgary alberta organized by oana avas. Read more about tribunal and other books by lyn hejinian. The book of a thousand eyes by lyn hejinian, paperback. Lyn hejinian teaches the university of california, berkeley. She is the author of many poetry collections, including my life and my life in the nineties wesleyan university press, 20, the book of a thousand eyes omnidawn, 2012, the fatalist omnidawn, 2003, and her landmark work my life burning deck, 1980. The book of a thousand eyes i love says the acrobat by lyn. The distinctly female narrator is looking around her, recor. Hejinians book is a compendium of night workslullabies, b. Ranging widely in subject and tone, this collection of prose begins as an homage to scheherazadethe heroine. She is also the author of a book of essays, the language of inquiry 2000.
Lyn hejinian s my life is one of the foundational texts of language poetry. Buy a cheap copy of the book of a thousand eyes by lyn hejinian. Lyn hejinian s poetics of the middle carla billitteri. She is the author of writing is an aid to memory 1978, my life 1980, 1987, 2002, happily 2000, and the fatalist 2003. Postmodern romance and the descriptive fetish of vision in fanny howes the lives of a spirit and lyn hejinian s my life, we who love to be astonished, laura hinton and cynthia hogue eds.
The book of a thousand eyes by lyn hejinian goodreads. The book of a thousand eyes lyn hejinian booklikes. She is the codirector with travis ortiz of atelos, a. She is the editor of tuumba press, the codirector with travis ortiz of atelos, a literary project commissioning and publishing crossgenre work by poets, and the. The poems explore and play with languages of diverse stages of consciousness and realms of imagination.
A dream, still clinging like light to the dark, rounding the gap left by things which have already happened leaving nothing in their place, may have nothing to do. At age twentyseven she returned to the bay area and began writing a hauntingly ungraspable mode of lyric in which a voice, disembodied but felt, unidentifiable and yet familiar, whispers to the reader of things that never converge to argument but that evaporate as. Composed and compiled over the course of the past twenty years, the book of a thousand eyesis the longawaited magnum opus of language. A dream, still clinging like light to the dark, rounding the gap left by things which have already happened leaving nothing in their place, may have nothing to do but that.
Shes been publicly reading selections from this book for nearly as long as shes been writing it, which has given it a slightly mythical status and an eager cult following. Lyn hejinian born may 17, 1941 is an american poet, essayist, translator and publisher. The book of a thousand eyes a dream, still clinging like light to the dark, rounding poem by lyn hejinian. Her most recent book, the book of a thousand eyes, is forthcoming in april 2012. The only thing that ive come up with is that the poem is structured like a dream, i. Her books include the beginner, the book of a thousand eyes, a border comedy, the fatalist, my life, and sagacircus.
The book of a thousand eyes by lyn hejinian 2012, trade. Poet, essayist, and translator, she is also the author and coauthor of several books of poetry, most recently tribunal omnidawn publishing, 2019. Written over the course of two decades, the book of a thousand eyes was begun as an homage to. The book of a thousand eyes by lyn hejinian alibris. The unfollowing, the book of a thousand eyes, saga circus, and the fatalist. Not hereover theres a better place to begin a funny story. Written over the course of two decades, the book of a thousand eyes was begun as an homage to scheherazade, the heroine of the arabian nights who. I felt stupored by her recent book of a thousand eyes, thinking she just gets better with time, but thats not so either.
This wesleyan edition includes the 45part prose poem seq. This is what gives it the character of a compendium. Reading lyn hejinian s happily can make one imagine a second, somewhat happier stein telling stories in single long or short lines that are aware of one another as they go about their own affairs. Part 10 by ron silliman, lyn hejinian, barrett watten, rae armantrout, others and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. First published in 1980, and revised in 1987 and 2002, my life is now firmly established in the postmodern canon.
Her most recent book is the unfollowing omnidawn books, 2016. The book of a thousand eyes to achieve reality by lyn. Written over the course of two decades, the book of a thousand eyes was begun as an homage to scheherazade, the heroine of the arabian nights who, through her. Poet, essayist, translator, and publisher lyn hejinian is a founding figure of the language poetry movement of the 1970s and an influential force in the world of experimental and avantgarde poetics. Her poetry is characterized by an unusual lyricism and descriptive engagement with the everyday. The book of a thousand eyes to achieve reality by lyn hejinian. This is hejinian s largest scale book yet it reflects the kind of intimacy and affective and affecting charm i associate with all her work. Jun 18, 20 lyn hejinian the book of a thousand eyes omnidawn, 2012 by calum gardner. She served as a chancellor of the academy of american poets from 20062012. The book of a thousand eyes a dream, still clinging like.
A native californian, she teaches in the english department at the university of california, berkeley. Lyn hejinian is a professor of english at the university of california, berkeley. Jean day a third of the way into the book of a thousand eyes comes the question, isnt sleep fitted to this world. And the easy answerabundantly yesboth masks and unveils the bigger shape. Lyn hejinian reading from the book of a thousand eyes 8. Childrens 4 7 childrens 8 12 childrens beginning readers.
Written over the course of two decades, the book of a th. The book of a thousand eyes is the culmination of two decades work for lyn hejinian, and it has been anticipated by some of her readers at least since the 1996 publication of a little book of a thousand eyes. The book of a thousand eyes npr coverage of the book of a thousand eyes by lyn hejinian. The book of a thousand eyes i love says the acrobat by. Hejinians book is a compendium of night workslullabies, bedtime stories, insomniac. Belladonna will bring out her prose work, positions of the sun, in 2017. Hejinian my life, one of the foremost proponents of language poetry, here presents a dated sequence october 1986 through january 1989.
Written over the course of two decades, the book of a thousand eyes was begun as an homage to scheherazade, the heroine of the arabian nights who, through her nightly taletelling, saved her culture and her own life by teaching a powerful and murderous ruler to abandon cruelty in favor of wisdom and benevolence. The book of a thousand eyes to achieve reality lyn hejinian 1941 to achieve reality where objects thrive on peoples passions, enormous effort and continuous social interactions are required, and i cant get started without you. The distinctly female narrator is looking around her, recording daily events and imaginings, often with. Lyn hejinian, like frost, was born in san francisco and educated in new england. The book of a thousand eyes lyn hejinian booklikes isbn.
The book of a thousand eyes lyn hejinian full stop. Her most recent published book of poetry is saga circus 2008. Her compendium of night works titled the book of a thousand eyes will appear in the early spring of 2012 from omnidawn. First published in 1980, and revised in 1987 and 2002, my.
Other volumes include the book of a thousand eyes omnidawn books, 2012 and the wide road, written in collaboration with carla harryman belladonna, 2010. Ranging widely in subject and tone, this collection of prose begins as an homage to scheherazadethe heroine of the arabian nights whose nightly taletelling saved her culture and her own life by teaching a powerful and murderous ruler to abandon cruelty in favor of wisdom and benevolence. Lyn hejinian data view poet, essayist, teacher, and translator. Lyn hejinian was born in the san francisco bay area in 1941. The book of a thousand eyes by harriet staff poetry foundation. Buy the book of a thousand eyes by lyn hejinian online at alibris. Hejinian s characteristic linguistic intensity and philosophical approach are present in this book length poem. Lyn hejinian is the author of of over twenty volumes of poetry and critical prose, including several poetry collections previously published by omnidawn. Other volumes include the book of a thousand eyes omnidawn books, 2012 and the wide road, written in collaboration with carla harryman. Hejinian s book is a compendium of night workslullabies, bedtime stories. Feb 11, 2012 thurs feb 9 12 lyn hejinian celebrated the release of the book of a thousand eyes omnidawn with a reading at city lights. The book of a thousand eyes i love says the acrobat. The book of a thousand eyes the lost pines inn would be a. Apr 01, 2012 the book of a thousand eyes by lyn hejinian, 9781890650575, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide.
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