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Life Is a Fatal Disease: Selected Poems, 1962-1995
This omnibus collection richly reflects the experience of its already legendary author, invoking myth and history, tragedy and comedy, narrative and lyric, nightmare and the clear light of day. Allen works in a great tradition of storytelling and education, delight-making and argument to bring a multitude of people, places, and situations before us. Particularly compelling is the variety of her poetic skills: her rich references, her lyrical flights, and, always, her earnest and compassionate voice.
Born in Cubero, New Mexico, a Spanish land grant village adjacent to Laguna Pueblo, Allen is of Laguna/Sioux/Lebanese/Scotch-American descent. Her mother's Laguna people are Keres speakers. Her father, Lee Francis, who grew up speaking Spanish and Arabic, went on to become lieutenant governor of New Mexico (1967-1970). Among the numerous books written and edited by Paula Gunn Allen are Spider Woman's Granddaughters: Traditional Tales and Contemporary Writing by Native American Woman and The Sacred Hoop: Recovering the Feminine in American Indian Tradition. She is professor of English at UCLA.
Born in Cubero, New Mexico, a Spanish land grant village adjacent to Laguna Pueblo, Allen is of Laguna/Sioux/Lebanese/Scotch-American descent. Her mother's Laguna people are Keres speakers. Her father, Lee Francis, who grew up speaking Spanish and Arabic, went on to become lieutenant governor of New Mexico (1967-1970). Among the numerous books written and edited by Paula Gunn Allen are Spider Woman's Granddaughters: Traditional Tales and Contemporary Writing by Native American Woman and The Sacred Hoop: Recovering the Feminine in American Indian Tradition. She is professor of English at UCLA.
- GenresPoetry
198 pages, Paperback
First published December 31, 1997
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122 people want to read
About the author
Paula Gunn Allen
48 books123 followersPaula Gunn Allen was a Native American poet, literary critic, lesbian activist, and novelist.
Born Paula Marie Francis in Albuquerque, Allen grew up in Cubero, New Mexico, a Spanish-Mexican land grant village bordering the Laguna Pueblo reservation. Of mixed Laguna, Sioux, Scottish, and Lebanese-American descent, Allen always identified most closely with the people among whom she spent her childhood and upbringing.
Having obtained a BA and MFA from the University of Oregon, Allen gained her PhD at the University of New Mexico, where she taught and where she began her research into various tribal religions.
Born Paula Marie Francis in Albuquerque, Allen grew up in Cubero, New Mexico, a Spanish-Mexican land grant village bordering the Laguna Pueblo reservation. Of mixed Laguna, Sioux, Scottish, and Lebanese-American descent, Allen always identified most closely with the people among whom she spent her childhood and upbringing.
Having obtained a BA and MFA from the University of Oregon, Allen gained her PhD at the University of New Mexico, where she taught and where she began her research into various tribal religions.
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September 21, 2020
This collection deserves to still be in print, and it should be included in the canon.
I have been excited to review this book since I started reading it! Paula Gunn Allen is as excellent a poet as T. S. Elliot (or likely better), who is the closest well-known poet I can name with in terms of style and accessibility (some poems more accessible, some a bit beyond my grasp at the moment). She does wonderful things with sound.
I think she's likely been written out of poetry's history because she's a woman of color, and it's infuriating, because as I said, her work is excellent. If you can lay hands on a copy of this collection, I highly recommend it. If you're a college poetry teacher, you should consider introducing this great poet to your students.
I have been excited to review this book since I started reading it! Paula Gunn Allen is as excellent a poet as T. S. Elliot (or likely better), who is the closest well-known poet I can name with in terms of style and accessibility (some poems more accessible, some a bit beyond my grasp at the moment). She does wonderful things with sound.
I think she's likely been written out of poetry's history because she's a woman of color, and it's infuriating, because as I said, her work is excellent. If you can lay hands on a copy of this collection, I highly recommend it. If you're a college poetry teacher, you should consider introducing this great poet to your students.
Displaying 1 of 1 review