American Wildflowers: A Literary Field Guide

American Wildflowers: A Literary Field Guide is a literary anthology that celebrates wildflowers and their place in our culture and natural world, featuring a diverse selection of plants and texts, from foreign-born writers to botanists, and prose pieces by Gwendolyn Brooks, Lydia Davis, and Aimee Nezhukumatathil. It is organized by species and botanical family and includes exquisite watercolors by Leanne Shapton.

Format: Hardback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 10 November 2022
Publisher: Abrams

American Wildflowers: A Literary Field Guide is a captivating anthology that delves into the world of wildflowers, offering a rich tapestry of classic and contemporary poems and essays inspired by these magnificent flowers. This literary field guide is meticulously curated by Editor Susan Barba, who has assembled a diverse collection of plants and texts that celebrate the beauty and significance of wildflowers in our culture and natural world. The book showcases a remarkable blend of writers, each with their unique perspectives and expertise. From foreign-born writers who explore the wonders of American plants to American writers who delve into the intricacies of non-native plants, the anthology showcases a wide range of voices and experiences. Rural writers with deep regional knowledge intertwine with urban writers who intimately acquaint themselves with the nature in their neighborhoods, creating a tapestry of literary landscapes. The anthology is inclusive and diverse, featuring female writers, Black writers, gay writers, indigenous writers, and botanists like William Bartram, George Washington Carver, and Robin Wall Kimmerer, alongside horticultural writers like Neltje Blanchan and Eleanor Perényi. The prose pieces by Gwendolyn Brooks, Lydia Davis, and Aimee Nezhukumatathil add depth and richness to the collection, while the poems, spanning from Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson to Allen Ginsberg and Robert Creeley, Lucille Clifton and Louise Glück, Natalie Diaz and Jericho Brown, transport readers into a realm of poetic expression. Moreover, the book is adorned with exquisite watercolors by Leanne Shapton, providing a visual feast that enhances the literary experience. Organized by species and botanical family, American Wildflowers: A Literary Field Guide serves as a captivating field guide to the literary imagination. Whether you are a writer, artist, or botanist, this anthology will inspire and ignite your creativity, offering a profound appreciation for the intricate connections between nature and the human spirit.

Weight: 904g
Dimension: 162 x 237 x 36 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781419760167