Djuna: The Extraordinary Life of Djuna Barnes
by Jon Macy
PUBLICATION DATE: : October 2024
6” X 9”
320 PAGES
TRADE PAPERBACK
ISBN: : 9781951491338
EBOOK ISBN:
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List Price
US $24.99
What People Are Saying
“Her life was undeniable spectacle: ‘the only label she accepted was genius.’ Macy, resurrects Djuna in dark expressive panels, particularly highlighting her hair in standout auburns. Washes of reds, blues, lavenders, and grays temper the nonlinear narrative as if attempting to contain Barnes’ larger-than-life experiences onto the pages. With self-admitted obsession, Macy eagerly introduces Barnes to new generations.” —Booklist
“In Macy's capable hands, Djuna's life and work are stubborn, admirable attempst at self-determination, threaded with desperate bids for validation. . . Readers will marvel at Barnes's spirit and tenacity.” —Publishers Weekly
“Jon Macy's beguiling graphics perfectly capture the tempestuous life of Djuna Barnes, in all its decadence and tenderness, despair and ambition, suffering and transcendence. I was completely enthralled.” —Rob Kirby, Author and Illustrator of Marry Me a Little
“This tour de force of a graphic novel brings to life the 20th century’s most famous unknown, an unforgettable American original.” —Eric Orner, author of Smahtguy: The Life and Time of Barney Frank
“Beautifully drawn and well-researched, Djuna Barnes’ riveting life story is exuberant, sexy, exasperating, fascinating, and complicated. Laced with clever banter, dark humor, and juicy lesbian drama, this brilliant biography explores how Barnes formed her art and ideas alongside other artists who broke social barriers and created community for strength and survival.”—Jennifer Camper, author of Rude Girls and Dangerous Women
“This book is not one to be missed. It is sure to become essential reading for all fans of literary or queer history. The epic tale captures the incredible spirit and the story of Djuna Barnes in a way that's both poignant and accessible.” —Josh Trujilo, author of Washington’s Gay General
“Jon Macy’s Djuna is a tour de force, a wild rollercoaster ride showcasing the extraordinary life of Djuna Barnes, one of the greatest writers of her era. The story is expertly depicted by Macy, a master cartoonist who has poured his heart and soul into this book. The result is one of the most beautiful comics biographies ever made.” —Justin Hall, editor of No Straight Lines: Four Decades of Queer Comics
"Quite possibly the most bisexual graphic biography you will ever find. A fascinating look into the lives of Djuna Barnes and other brave, often troubled, and iconoclastic women who forced their way in the world, insisting on the right to live and love as they pleased, and on being seen and heard." -Robyn Ochs, editor of Bi Women Quarterly
Synopsis
A graphic biography of Djuna Barnes: writer, artist, and queer radical of the Lost Generation in the Roaring 20s.
Djuna Barnes lived in a dazzling world filled with literary salons, innovative writing, and daring new art styles. But it didn’t come easily. She managed to work her way out of an abusive childhood growing up in a polygamous rural utopian community on Long Island. She was determined to live an extraordinary life, and found herself socializing with the likes of James Joyce, Natalie Barney, Peggy Guggenheim, and T.S. Eliot in 1920s literary Paris. Called the most famous unknown of the century, Djuna Barnes stood out for her brilliant writing, her biting wit, and her unique style. Her novel, Nightwood is considered by some to be one of the greatest lesbian love stories ever written. But as the stock market crashed and the Lost Generation left Paris, her life began to unwind.
A fascinating window into the life of a woman whose enormous literary talent and provocative attitude were both celebrated and disdained by the world.
About the Author
JL Macy is best known for Teleny & Camille, his adaptation of the anonymous (but attributed to Oscar Wilde and his circle) Victorian novel Teleny, the winner of the Lambda Literary Award. He’s contributed to the anthologies Gay Comix, No Straight Lines, Qu33r, and Meatman Comics, and created the ‘Butch Lesbians of the 20s, 30s, and 40s’ coloring book series. His obsession with Djuna Barnes began in 1992, when he first picked up a copy of her novel Nightwood. Follow the author on Instagram @nefarismo
