Djuna Barnes
Djuna Barnes was an American writer and artist best known for her novel 'Nightwood,' which is a classic of lesbian literature and a key work of modernist literature. She was a significant figure in the bohemian and avant-garde circles of early 20th-century Paris and New York.
Books
This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.
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1. Nightwood
"Nightwood" is a modernist novel that explores the complex relationships and sexuality of a group of Americans and Europeans living in Paris in the 1920s. The story primarily revolves around the tumultuous love affair between two women, one of whom is a married aristocrat. The narrative, known for its poetic and dense language, delves deep into the characters' psyches, exploring themes of identity, gender, and desire. The novel is also notable for its frank and groundbreaking depiction of homosexuality and transgender issues.
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2. Nachtgewächs
Set in the vibrant and bohemian world of early 20th-century Paris, this collection of stories and poems delves into the complexities of human relationships and the darker sides of love and desire. Through a series of vivid and often surreal vignettes, the narrative explores themes of identity, alienation, and the search for meaning in a rapidly changing world. The characters, often outsiders or misfits, navigate the blurred lines between reality and fantasy, revealing the raw and unfiltered emotions that lie beneath the surface of their interactions. The work is a rich tapestry of language and imagery, capturing the essence of a time and place where art and life intertwine in unexpected ways.
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3. Ladies Almanack
showing their Signs and their Tides; their Moons and their Changes; the Seasons, as it is with them; their Eclipses and Equinoxes; as well as a full record of diurnal and nocturnal distempers
A playful mock almanac and hagiography tracks a charismatic patron-saint of love and her circle of women in 1920s Paris, using archaic, Rabelaisian prose and astrological conceits to both satirize and celebrate their salons, romances, and debates over gender and desire, yielding a witty, labyrinthine portrait of a queer community navigating freedom, ritual, and social hypocrisy.
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4. Counterweight
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