Doolittle, Hilda
Asphodel
- ISBN 13:
- 9780822312420
- author:
- Doolittle, Hilda
- format:
- Paperback
- publisher:
- Duke University Press Books
- language:
- English
- Publication Year:
- 1992
- Pages:
- 240
- Genre:
- Literature
- Condition:
- New
- Availability:
- Item usually sent within 10 working days
Description
Asphodel, a groundbreaking autobiographical novel by Hilda Doolittle, was penned with the words "DESTROY" emblazoned across its title page. Although the manuscript survived, it has remained unpublished since its completion in the 1920s. This remarkable experimental prose text explores themes of lesbian desire, pregnancy and motherhood, artistic independence for women, and female experience during wartime. Set against the backdrop of pre-World War I London and Paris, Asphodel follows a young American woman as she navigates the frustrations of a literary world dominated by men, the failures of an attempted lesbian relationship, and the birth of an illegitimate child. With moving lyricism and striking candor, H.D.'s novel describes the emergence of a young and gifted woman from her self-exile. Editor Robert Spoo's introduction provides valuable context for understanding Asphodel within H.D.'s life and work.