Harryette Mullen Knihy

Exploring Harryette Mullen's poetry, this collection delves into her creative methods and interests while addressing significant themes in African American poetry, women's voices, and the evolution of poetic expression. Through essays and interviews, it reveals the motivations behind Mullen's work and proposes innovative avenues for the future of poetic language as a means of identity and empowerment.

With gleeful pursuit of the ludic pleasure of word games (acrostic, anagram, homophone, parody, and pun) as well as reflections on the politics of language and dialect, this work collects poems that are inspired or influenced by a technique of the international literary avant-garde group Oulipo, a dictionary game called S+7 or N+7.

Highlighting the innovative style of Harryette Mullen, this critical edition spans her poetry from 1981 to today, showcasing a selection from her notable collections and previously uncollected works. Accompanied by five scholarly essays, the volume provides fresh perspectives on Mullen's contributions to contemporary poetry and avant-garde literature. This essential compilation not only traces her remarkable career but also emphasizes her formal experimentation, making it a valuable resource for both scholars and poetry enthusiasts.