Golden Ax
Golden Ax by Rio Cortez is a poetry collection published by Penguin on August 30, 2022, featuring 80 pages of thought-provoking verse. This work delves into the themes of Afropioneerism, exploring the intersections of personal and political narratives through the lens of Cortez’s family history and the broader Black experience in the American West.
Readers will find a range of poems that blend wry observations of contemporary life with deeper reflections on ancestral legacies. Golden Ax invites an exploration of Black womanhood and the historical context that informs the pursuit of freedom. Through intelligent and lyrical language, Cortez presents a vision that re-imagines both the past and future, encouraging a nuanced understanding of identity and place.
Official synopsis Publisher
Longlisted for the 2022 National Book Award for Poetry
Longlisted for the 2023 PEN Open Book Award
Finalist for the Poetry Society of America’s Norma Farber First Book Award
“Outstanding . . . the poetry in these pages is intelligent, lyrical, as invested in the past as the present and future with witty nods to pop culture.” —Roxane Gay, author of Hunger
“I’ve never read anything like it. Truly a sublime experience.” —Jason Reynolds, author of Ain’t Burned All the Bright
A groundbreaking collection about Afropioneerism past and present from Pushcart Prize-nominated poet and New York Times bestselling author Rio Cortez
From a visionary writer praised for her captivating work on Black history and experience comes a poetry collection exploring personal, political, and artistic frontiers, journeying from her family’s history as “Afropioneers” in the American West to shimmering glimpses of transcendent, liberated futures.
In poems that range from wry, tongue-in-cheek observations about contemporary life to more nuanced meditations on her ancestors—some of the earliest Black pioneers to settle in the western United States after Reconstruction—Golden Ax invites readers to re-imagine the West, Black womanhood, and the legacies that shape and sustain the pursuit of freedom.
Author
Publisher
Topics
FAQ
What is “Golden Ax” about?
Who is the author of “Golden Ax”?
When was “Golden Ax” published?
What is the ISBN for “Golden Ax”?
What are the book details (language, pages, edition)?
