In this verse novel, Anne Carson reimagines a fragment of Greek mythology through the eyes of Geryon, a red winged monster. Instead of the traditional epic battle against Herakles, the narrative follows Geryon’s childhood in a modern setting, his struggle with an abusive brother, and his obsessive romantic entanglement with a young man named Herakles. Geryon navigates his identity through the medium of photography, using a camera to document his internal landscape and his status as an outsider. The text blends fictional prose-poems with scholarly mock-appendices and translations of the poet Stesichorus.
Readers interested in the intersection of classical scholarship and experimental fiction turn to this work for its unique linguistic precision. It appeals to those who study how ancient myths can be repurposed to describe contemporary queer experiences and social isolation. The reader gains a specific perspective on the relationship between visual art and written language, seeing how a protagonist uses a lens to mediate his reality. One walks away with a technical appreciation for how fragmented poetry can build a cohesive character study centered on the difficulty of being seen by others.
- Published
- 1998
- Language
- EN
