The Sea-God's Herb - by John Domini (Paperback)

About the Book

A witty and sophisticated examination of nontraditional storytelling in contemporary art and literature

Book Synopsis

A witty and sophisticated examination of nontraditional storytelling in contemporary art and literature, The Sea-God's Herb contains reviews and essays on some of the most interesting authors and artists of the last forty years. From William Gass and Thomas Pynchon to Brian Evenson and Steve Erickson, John Domini takes readers beyond that which is "impossible" to explain.

John Domini, noted poet, essayist, and author, has had his work appear in the New York Times, GQ, Paris Review, and Ploughshares. A former National Endowment for the Arts and Ingram-Merrill Foundation fellow, he teaches at Iowa State University and lives in Des Moines, Iowa.

Review Quotes

"I'm awed to the level that Domini takes criticism." -- David S. Atkinson InDigest

"A valuable and fascinating book, always with an eye toward interesting experimentation. It's both rigorous and generous, full of insight for those who already know the many authors under discussion and for those seeking an introduction." -- Jeff VanderMeer, author of Southern Reach Trilogy

"Like many, I read John Domini's criticism with great pleasure and attention so the arrival of a decade-spanning collection of said is cause for serious celebration. The brilliant long essay, "Against the 'Impossible to Explain'", would alone be worth the price of entry but there is so much more. Morrison, Banks, Mabanckou, Sebald and Gordon are just a few of the authors whose work Domini takes up with his characteristic heart and incisive smarts. I'm glad this book is in the world." -- Laird Hunt, author of Kind One

"Few read the innovative with the subtlety, passion, political/aesthetic savvy, and illumination as John Domini has for the better part of forty years. We're all better off for him thinking among us. Every essay in The Sea-God's Herb is a gift from the front. --Lance Olsen, author of Theories of Forgetting and [[ there. ]]

About the Author

John Domini, a noted poet, essayist, and author, has had his nonfiction appear The New York Times and GQ, and his fiction has been featured in Paris Review and Ploughshares. A former National Endowment for the Arts and Ingram-Merrill Foundation fellow, his novel Tomb of the Periphery was shortlisted for the London Book Festival prize and his Earthquake I.D. was runner-up for the Domenico Rea prize in Italy. He teaches at Iowa State University and makes his home in Des Moines.