The Book of the Repulsive Women. 8 Rhythms and 5 Drawings. This item is unavailable.The Book of the Repulsive Women. 8 Rhythms and 5 Drawings

One of 1000 copies, originally published by Guido Bruno in 1915. Number 14 in the Outcast Series. Stiff paper wraps, 5.75 by 8.5 inches. Front board detached. The set of 4 drawings is present but also detached [one sheet with the four drawings. The covers have age fading. First published in 1915, this provocative chapbook combines eight poems, referred to as rhythms, with five illustrations. The collection delves into themes of female sexuality and societal perceptions, portraying women in various statesfrom a cabaret singer to depictions of suicide victims. Barnes's writing is heavily influenced by late 19th-century Decadence, and her illustrations echo the style of Aubrey Beardsley. The poems are set against the backdrop of New York City and feature subjects such as a cabaret singer, a woman observed from an elevated train, and, in the final poem, the corpses of two suicides in the morgue. Barnes's depiction of women's bodies and sexuality challenges conventional norms, presenting them in ways that some readers found unsettling. Barnes's own relationship with this work was complex; she later referred to it dismissively, omitting it from her curriculum vitae and even attempting to suppress its publication. The Book of Repulsive Women stands as a significant contribution to early 20th-century literature, offering a candid and unflinching examination of women's lives and bodies. Barnes's fusion of poetry and illustration invites readers to confront and reconsider their perceptions of femininity, making it a compelling read for those interested in feminist literature and avant-garde art.…