Essential Poems and Writings

by Joyce Mansour, Serge Gavronsky (Translator)

Edited with an introduction by Serge Gavronsky. Joyce Mansour (1928-1986) is widely considered to be one of the most important of the woman Surrealists. Her work has gained more recognition every year since her death. Following the release in France of a 700 page critically acclaimed anthology (in French), this is the first major anthology of her writings to be availble in English. The extensive poetry section is bilingual.

Genres: Poetry

440 pages, Paperback

First published October 20, 2007

About the author

Joyce Mansour was born Joyce Patricia Adès in Bowden, England to Jewish-Egyptian parents. After a month in Cheshire her parents returned with her to Cairo where she lived until she was twenty. Moving to Paris in 1953 she became one of the best known Surrealist poets, authoring sixteen books of poetry, as well as a number of important prose and theater pieces.

Reviews

[Sandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

The poems are really great---the introduction is a disgrace. It is an unreadable mess of poor grammar and unclear thought. I just feel so bad for this author and I sincerely hope another edition of her poems emerge with a proper intro.

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic collection of Mansour's work chock-full of her trademark poetic violence, surrealistic eroticism, and lunatic stage direction.

[Walter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This title is all wrong!!!

The book with this cover is:
“Essential Poems and Writings”
By Joyce Mansour

Poetry is a four letter word to me, it’s not a place to go, it’s a slur, you resort and say slurs when you mean it, but don’t.

Then there are actual poets: blending meaning with life, their own, and what they see and if they have the time.. translate their vision with their heart, mind, and where they are trying to go.

Joyce Mansour is one of those. All I can say is, I opened this book, and beyond a title, a verse, I just read a bit, a clip of poem, which was:

“You were comfortably seated
On a black bear
You were tearing at pieces of skin
With your brilliant fingers against a bloody sky
And while you were creating a new world
It snowed”

The first time ever that I read something and wanted to get into the world, what it meant, so visual, sensual, and full of an emotional meaning, but not trying to force me there, I guess that makes it sincere Art. Awesome.

[Bec · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible surreal vicious viscous poems but the introduction is ridiculous. Sad any context and meaningful analysis of such a compelling poet is buried under pages of incomprehensible asides nonsensical bits and weird little in jokes. I could see Gavronsky in my mind's eye just smirking his way through all 30 pages of it. Thankfully the remaining 400 pages are a masterwork and nasty and dire and beautiful. Of the body and of the blood. God's waiting.

[Reb · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 5 stars are for the poems, which are phenomenal. I agree with others here about the introduction, which is terrible.