The Feeling Sonnets

The Feeling Sonnets by Eugene Ostashevsky are written in an English that is translingual, reflecting upon itself in uncertainty as if it were the work of a language learner. They explore the relationship between interpretation and emotion, bringing up children in a foreign language, foreign-language processing of inherited historical trauma, and translation. The book is a tour de force, turning languages' spotlights onto speech itself and discussing migration, translation, and second-language writing as practiced by pirates and parrots.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 104 pages
Publication date: 28 July 2022
Publisher: Carcanet Press Ltd

The Feeling Sonnets, penned by Eugene Ostashevsky, are a remarkable testament to the power of language. Written in an English that transcends borders, these sonnets engage with other languages and reflect upon themselves with a sense of uncertainty, akin to that of a language learner. Ostashevsky employs a range of linguistic techniques to convey the effects of migration and non-nativeness, distorting words, idioms, sentences, and poetic conventions to evoke the complexities of the immigrant experience.

The book comprises four cycles of fourteen unrhymed, unmetered, and logically Petrarchan sonnets. The first cycle delves into the intricate relationship between interpretation and emotion, exploring whether we truly feel the emotions that we label as our own. The second cycle, primarily composed of daughter sonnets, portrays the challenges of raising children in a foreign language. The third cycle, titled "Die Schreibblockade," German for writer's block, delves into the foreign-language processing of inherited historical trauma. The fourth cycle revolves around translation, with a libretto commissioned by Italian composer Lucia Ronchetti following, recounting Ravel's interaction with Paul Wittgenstein during the composition of the Piano Concerto for the Left Hand.

Gwyneth Lewis, in her review of The Feeling Sonnets, aptly describes Eugene Ostashevsky as a multilingual language explorer. His poetry is an exhilarating and witty exploration into the profound designs that language has on our intellectual, domestic, and historical existence. It manifests as poetry that is simultaneously entertaining and profoundly serious, akin to a pun-filled philosophy. This book is a tour de force, casting a spotlight on the very essence of speech itself. Carcanet, renowned for its commitment to publishing significant poetry, has once again released a masterpiece. Ostashevsky, born in Leningrad and raised in Brooklyn, currently resides in Berlin and New York. In his previous full book of poetry, "The Pirate Who Does Not Know the Value of Pi," published by NYRB Poets, he delves into the practices of migration, translation, and second-language writing as observed among pirates and parrots.

Through his poetic lens, Ostashevsky offers a unique perspective on the complexities of language and culture. His work challenges our assumptions, expands our horizons, and invites us to reevaluate the ways in which we communicate and perceive the world. The Feeling Sonnets is a testament to the power of poetry to transcend boundaries and ignite meaningful conversations. It is a must-read for anyone who appreciates the beauty and complexities of language and the profound impact it has on our lives.

Weight: 146g
Dimension: 215 x 135 x 12 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781800172012