This AmazonClassics edition of Georgia Douglas Johnson’s Collected Early Poems contains the poet’s earliest published works, including “The Marriage of Faustus and Helen” (1916), winner of the prestigious Harmon Gold Award for poetry. A forerunner of the Harlem Renaissance movement, Johnson was one of America’s first successful female poets. She imbues her verse with a unique blend of southern gentility and African-American spiritualism, exploring questions of love, gender identity, and race in poems that are both lyrical and powerful.
For who is this book for ?
This AmazonClassics edition of Georgia Douglas Johnson’s Collected Early Poems is for anyone who wants to read the poet’s earliest published works.
Pros :
- The author is a female poet which is quite rare.
- The poems are lyrical and powerful.
- This edition contains the poet’s earliest published works, including “The Marriage of Faustus and Helen” (1916), winner of the prestigious Harmon Gold Award for poetry.
Cons :
- There are only 47 pages of poems
- The book is expensive for a small amount of content
- Some of the poems seem unfinished
Learn more about the author
Georgia Douglas Johnson (1880-1966) was an American author and poet. She published her first poem at the age of 16 in a local newspaper, and soon became well known as one of the foremost black poets of her time. In 1916 she won the prestigious Harmon Gold Award for poetry with “The Marriage of Faustus and Helen”. A forerunner of the Harlem Renaissance movement, Johnson is considered one of America’s first successful female poets.
Reader Reviews
“This is an absolutely stunning collection of early poems by Georgia Douglas Johnson. The Marriage of Faustus and Helen is one my favorite pieces, but they are all excellent. I can’t recommend this enough.”
“Poignant, beautiful, and timeless. . .”
“This edition is a must for any fan of Georgia Douglas Johnson or early American poetry.”
“This is an excellent edition of Georgia Douglas Johnson’s poetry. The editing, especially in terms of lineation and punctuation, is impeccable.”
