Cunt Norton

by Dodie Bellamy

In Cunt Norton, the sequel to her unforgettable Cunt Ups, Dodie Bellamy “cunts” The Norton Anthology of Poetry (1975 edition), setting her text-ravenous cut-ups loose to devour the canonical voices of English literature. The texts that emerge from this sexual-linguistic encounter are monstrous, beautiful, unashamed: 33 erotic love poems (“the greatest fuck poem in the English language,” according to Ariana Reines) that lust after the very aesthetic they resist. “These patriarchal voices that threatened to erase me—of course I love them as well,” Bellamy writes. Even as Cunt Norton dismembers the history of English poetry, “cunting” Chaucer and Shakespeare, Emerson and Lowell, it simultaneously allows new sexual to arise and fill in the gaps, transforming the secret into the explicit, the classically beautiful into the wonderfully grotesque. Bellamy’s cunted texts breathe life into literary “masters” with joy, honesty, hilarity, and insatiable passion.

Genres: Poetry, Feminism

75 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Dodie Bellamy is an American novelist, nonfiction author, journalist and editor. Her work is frequently associated with that of Dennis Cooper, Kathy Acker, and Eileen Myles. She is one of the originators in the New Narrative literary movement, which attempts to use the tools of experimental fiction and critical theory and apply them to narrative storytelling.

She ist married to Kevin Killian.

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first starting reading Cunt Norton, I thought it was hilarious! Then, I started thinking it was genius (but still hilarious!). Later, I found myself oddly aroused and in the most peculiar places like the El Train and in my office after lunch. So, I started reading it only when finding myself aroused did not occur on public transportation or when I was at work.

I completely adore this book even though I needed to sneak around to read it. Completely genius, hilarious and if you’re a strange duck like me, fully erotic! YOU MUST read this book! Read it out loud to your lover with a Lord Byron accent! HUZZAH! You will not be disappointed.

[Tameca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, that was fun! 😅

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Norton. As in Anthology of English Literature. . . The conceit of Bellamy's funny little book is to write erotica in the style of 33 canonized poets. Part Burroughsian cut-up, part Kathy Acker mash-up, Cunt Norton succeeds in getting Pound, Emerson, Spenser, et al. to finally get in the dirt and open wide.

[Karena Bakas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been savoring this delightfully nerdy and deliciously queer little book for a while.

From the lovely forward by Ariana Reines:
“Cunt Norton’s a Frankensteinian body, it’s heterogenous parts sewn together and made animate or reanimate by a strong dose of fortified porn… I think this could be the most joyful book on Earth.”

[CJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was recommended to me by my professor, Teresa Carmody, and it quickly became an instant favorite. The comedy mixed with the artistic nature of the prose made it next to impossible to put down. I recommend it to anyone who loves the classic authors and/ or has a dirty sense of humor!

[Jason Kirk · Rating 4 out of 5]

The premise of Bellamy's unique little book is that each poem takes a giant from the Western poetry canon and apes his (or in a few cases, her) voice and imagery, recasting them as lyrics that eschew foreplay for the immediacy of no-holds-barred sexual encounters: literal, imagined, fantastic, and in any and every case, decidedly X-rated. From Chaucer to Dickinson to Ted Hughes, Bellamy's many voices play at the jUNCTion of fUNCTion and UNCTuous gumption. It's an airtight concept that only a poet as daring, well-read, and hilarious as Bellamy could pull off with such a keen ear for the originals. The result is literally laugh-out-loud funny. What's more, they'd make Tipper Gore hit the floor. (Quoted from #SmallBooksMonth )

[Cherie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A- Really interesting concept - Bellamy, ever one to push the sexual boundaries, writes short 2 page sections in the styles of various authors - Shakespeare, Ginsberg (my fave!), Poe, Frost. If you have familiarity w the authors, it is esp enjoyable to see how well Bellamy captures their style, but if not, still great writing. Love the latest from Dodie!

[Erin Lyndal Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed for Bookslut. A delightful read!

[Erin Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

sexy, hermaphoditic, lovely, explorative, illuminating