Autobiography of Red

Epic card · No. 6662

Autobiography of Red is a verse novel by Anne Carson, published in 1998 by Alfred A. Knopf. The work reimagines the plot of the fragmentary poem Geryoneis by the ancient Greek poet Stesichorus, which recounts the episode in the life of Heracles in which he kills the red, winged monster known as Geryon to steal his cattle. In the novel, Carson imagines Geryon as a gay teenager with wings living in the present day who falls in love with a rebellious young man named Heracles, who breaks his heart. The novel is considered one of Carson's best works and the one that brought her name to fame. It is also regarded as one of the most complex characterizations of a gay character in contemporary English-language literature. Among the main themes it addresses are lost love, the image of the artist as a monstrous being, and the role of translations. In 2013, Carson published a sequel to the work titled Red Doc> in which she continues the story of Geryon and Heracles, employing a similar poetic style.

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