Annotations (New Directions Paperbook, 809)

Price: $12.95
(as of Jul 20, 2025 09:15:18 UTC – Details)

“Genius―brilliant, polished and of considerable depth.” ―Ishmael Reed

An experimental first novel of poem-like compression, Annotations has a great deal to say about growing up Black in St. Louis. Reminiscent of Jean Toomer’s Cane, the book is in part a meditation on African-American autobiography. Keene explores questions of identity from many angles―from race to social class to sexuality (gay and straight). Employing all manner of textual play and rhythmic and rhetorical maneuvers, he (re)creates his life story as a jazz fugue-in-words.
Publisher ‏ : ‎ New Directions
Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 17, 1995
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Print length ‏ : ‎ 96 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0811213048
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0811213042
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 3.99 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.2 x 0.4 x 8.1 inches