Collected Poetry of Nikki Giovanni: 1968-1999

Description

This omnibus covers Nikki Giovanni's complete work of poetry from 1967-1983. THE COLLECTED POETRY OF NIKKI GIOVANNI will include the complete volumes of five adult books of poetry: Black Feeling Black Talk/Black Judgement, My House, The Women and the Men, Cotton Candy on a Rainy Day, and Those Who Ride the Night Winds. Nikki self-published her first book Black Feeling, Black Talk/BlackJudgement in 1969, selling 10,000 copies; William Morrow published in 1970. Know for its iconic revolutionary phrases, it is heralded as one of the most important volumes of modern African-American poetry and is considered the seminal volume of Nikki's body of work. My House (Morrow 1972) marks a new dimension in tone and philosphy--This is Giovanni's first foray into the autobiographical. In The Women and the Men (Morrow 1975), Nikki displays her compassion for the people, things and places she has encountered--She reveres the ordinary and is in search of the extraordinary. Cotton Candy on a Rainy Day (Morrow 1978) is one of the most poignant and introspective of all Giovanni's collections. These poems chronicle the drastic change that took place during the 1970s--when the dreams of the Civil Rights era seemed to have evaporated. Those Who Ride the Night Winds (Morrow 1983) is devoted to "the day trippers and midnight cowboys," the ones who have devoted their lives to pushing the limits of the human condition and shattered the constraints of the stautus quo.

Poet, activist, mother and professor Nikki Giovanni was born in 1943, in Knoxville, Tennessee. Over the span of thirty years, Nikki has received nineteen honorary degrees from colleges and universities.

"One of the finest poets of our time. . . Her work still resonates." -- Ebony "Fiery yet personal . . . an ample and diligent introduction, chronology and notes to individual works." -- Publishers Weekly "Wise and mischievous, Giovanni is a must-read at every stage if her happily, still growing oeuvre." -- Booklist "What a powerful first impression she made. This collection of early work is an excellent reminder." -- Library Journal