Pathetic Literature

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This unique collection by an award-winning writer serves as a global anthology featuring lesser-known classics from literary luminaries such as Franz Kafka, Samuel R. Delany, and Gwendolyn Brooks, alongside emerging voices. It delves into the politics of pathos and emotion, revitalizing the term "pathetic." Eileen Myles, in their bold introduction, asserts that "Literature is pathetic," reclaiming the word from its negative connotations and restoring its original meaning rooted in inspiring emotion, as derived from the ancient Greek concept of pathos. The anthology showcases a diverse range of 105 contributors, including literary giants like Robert Walser, Jorge Luis Borges, and Rumi, as well as queer icons and revolutionaries such as Dodie Bellamy and Bob Flanagan. It also features fresh perspectives from rising writers like Nicole Wallace and Precious Okoyomon. The collection blends creative nonfiction by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio and Jack Halberstam with poetry from Natalie Diaz and Lucille Clifton, alongside prose by Chester Himes and Chris Kraus. The result is an extraordinary anthology that fosters an ongoing dialogue while serving as an essential compendium of queer, revolutionary, and moving literature. It navigates themes of suffering, embarrassment, and solace, offering a rich taxonomy of ways to embrace a "pathetic" existence in a polarized world.