Bellocq’s Ophelia
(2002, Graywolf Press)
Winner of the 2003 ALA Notable Book Award
Winner of the 2003 Mississippi Arts and Letters Book Prize
Finalist for the 2003 Lenore Marshall Prize
Finalist for the 2003 James Laughlin Prize
“Trethewey’s words are simple. Her work is not. It is alive with images and stories that mark Trethewey as an intuitive new voice for the 21st century.”—The Times Daily
In the early 1900s, E.J. Bellocq photographed prostitutes in the red-light district of New Orleans. His remarkable, candid photos inspired Natasha Trethewey to imagine the life of Ophelia, the subject of Bellocq’s Ophelia, her stunning second collection of poems. With elegant precision, Ophelia tells of her life on display: her white father whose approval she earns by standing very still; the brothel Madame who tells her to act like a statue while the gentlemen callers choose; and finally the camera, which not only captures her body, but also offers a glimpse into her soul.
Reviews and Praise:
“Through a series of letters home, reminiscences, and other characters’ voices, the life Trethewey creates—that of a sensitive and observant woman sorting through the contradictions of her singular job and the strange relationship between artists and model—is made rich and plausible.”—Washington City Paper
“More than mere photographs, these are love letters that open like windows onto the temple of Aphrodite. Women are free to step into and out of the picture frame to learn firsthand from these religious adepts.”—South Florida Sun-Sentinel
“Trethewey carries forward the lyric musings on black women’s lives that she began in her arresting debut, Domestic Work (2000). . . . Trethewey creates a persona who belies the implied tragedy of her name by focusing her keen intellect on survival and, ultimately, taking control of the camera and her life. . . . Trethewey’s spare yet plangent verse portrait illuminates a soul ennobled in her quiet battle with injustice.”―Booklist
“Trethewey goes two-for-two by successfully taking on the poetically dubious task of working from art and making it signify anew.”―Publishers Weekly
“A novella-in-verse that is a pleasure and a revelation to read.”―Garrett Hongo
“This Ophelia, Trethewey’s invention, pierces us with lush, tough, elegant poetry, as she yearns to step out of a constricting frame, ‘wide-eyed, into life.’ Hers–theirs–is a stunning accomplishment.”―Gail Mazur
Format: Paperback