Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors.
Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker.
Eunoia (book)
&sq=PHP&lang=en&file=File:Eunoia_(book).png) | |
| Author | Christian Bök |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Subject | Univocalic poetry |
| Publisher | Coach House Books |
Publication date | 2001 |
| Publication place | Canada |
| Media type | Hardback |
| Pages | 112 |
| ISBN | 1-55245-092-9 |
Eunoia (2001) is an anthology of univocalics by Canadian poet Christian Bök. Each chapter is written using words limited to consonants and a single vowel, producing sentences like: "Hassan can, at a handclap, call a vassal at hand and ask that all staff plan a bacchanal".[1] The author believes "his book proves that each vowel has its own personality, and demonstrates the flexibility of the English language."[1] The work was inspired by the Oulipo group, which seeks to create works using constrained writing techniques.[2]
The book was published in Canada in 2001 by Coach House Books; sold 20,000 copies; and won the 2002 Canadian Griffin Poetry Prize.[3] Canongate Books published a British edition in 2008.[4] The book sold well in the United Kingdom, making The Times list of the year's top 10 books and becoming the top-selling book of poetry in Britain.[3]
The title eunoia, which literally means good thinking, is a medical term for the state of normal mental health, and is also the shortest word in the English language which contains all five vowels. The cover features a chromatic representation of Arthur Rimbaud's sonnet "Voyelles" (Vowels) in which each vowel is assigned a particular colour and consonants appear grey.
The "E" chapter was set to music by Kate Soper in her chamber piece Helen Enfettered.[5]
- ^ a b "Beautiful vowels". BBC Today. news.bbc.co.uk. 2008-10-30. Retrieved 2009-01-05.
- ^ Bök, p. 111.
- ^ a b "Calgary poet hits U.K. bestseller list". cbc.ca. 2009-01-05. Retrieved 2009-01-05.
- ^ Mark Sanderson (2008-10-29). "Literary Life". The Telegraph. London: telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-01-05.
- ^ Woolfe, Zachary (July 22, 2014). "At 50, Festival Is Reunion of Sorts". The New York Times.
Previous Page Next Page
