apocrifa

Apocrifa is a novel that explores the complexities of love, using a collection of words for love, romance, sex, relationships, and affection that do not have direct English translations. It is inspired by the metaphors and structures of the Song of Songs and features characters who speak to each other in contrapuntal call-and-response, revealing their private thoughts through epistles, sestinas, odes, and other poetic forms.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 96 pages
Publication date: 29 June 2023
Publisher: Red Hen Press

Apocrifa delves into the realm of a love that finds its harmonious balance between commitment and freedom. As the intimacy between a lover and their beloved unfolds, a rich tapestry of words for love, romance, sex, relationships, and affection emerges, defying direct translation into English. These poetically defined terms serve as both titles and markers of the passage of time, accentuating the growing tension between the speaker's declaration of "I cannot love you enough/to unlove the wide world" and their undeniable allure towards the promise of "a place of sustenance, rest, and my delight in your very bones." Drawing profound inspiration from the metaphors and structures found in the Apocryphal books of the Bible, particularly the Song of Songs (or Song of Solomon), the characters engage in a contrapuntal dialogue, revealing their private thoughts through epistles, sestinas, odes, and various poetic forms. Within this captivating narrative, Apocrifa invites us to explore the complexities of love, the boundaries between commitment and autonomy, and the profound depths of human emotions.

Weight: 112g
Dimension: 164 x 167 x 8 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781636280639