The Furies - by Moira Egan (Paperback)

About the Book

"In The Furies, Moira Egan offers fierce feminist reimaginings of familiar myths and narratives, from Arachne to Echo, from Medusa and Mary Magdalene to the female characters of The Odyssey, in verse that highlights the value of solidarity and collective strength among women. With dazzling erudition and playful ingenuity, she deploys exuberant wordplay and traditional poetic forms to subvert the patriarchal canon. At the heart of the book is a profound exploration of voice, not least the ongoing silencing of women's voices: Egan blends righteous anger with grief, ultimately finding hope in the transformative power of language"-- Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

In The Furies, Moira Egan offers fierce feminist reimaginings of familiar myths and narratives, from Arachne to Echo, from Medusa and Mary Magdalene to the female characters of The Odyssey, in verse that highlights the value of solidarity and collective strength among women. With dazzling erudition and playful ingenuity, she deploys exuberant wordplay and traditional poetic forms to subvert the patriarchal canon. At the heart of the book is a profound exploration of voice, not least the ongoing silencing of women's voices: Egan blends righteous anger with grief, ultimately finding hope in the transformative power of language.

Review Quotes

"The Furies reminds us once again why Moira Egan is one of the most influential poets of our time. With an inimitable voice, she tackles intense subjects like desire and womanhood with sharp wit and unflinching truth, all while maintaining her technical mastery."--Alexis Sears

"Egan understands received forms' emotional and psychological layers: sonnet sequences as community gathering or anagrams as sensuous, private conversation. The Furies is intelligent, biting, and earthy."--Derrick Austin

"Theatrical in conception and execution, Egan's speakers turn caustic or droll, passionate or knowing. Her poems are smart, yes, but it is an intelligence filled with pathos. Egan feels her thoughts, as Eliot says of the Metaphysical poets, 'as immediately as the odour of a rose.' She writes to delight the senses."--David Yezzi

About the Author

Moira Egan has published five books of poetry in the United States and four in Italy, including Amore e morte, a bilingual collection of new and selected poems. Her work has been featured in journals and anthologies on four continents. Also a prize-winning translator, she lives in Rome with her husband, Damiano Abeni.