| The Argonauts | |
| Author: | Maggie Nelson |
| Country: | United States |
| Genre: | Autotheory |
| Publisher: | Graywolf Press |
| Release Date: | 2015 |
| Media Type: | |
| Pages: | 160 |
| Isbn: | 1555977073 |
The Argonauts is a book by poet and critic Maggie Nelson, published in 2015. It mixes philosophical theory with memoir.[1] The book discusses her romantic relationship with the transgender artist Harry Dodge leading to her pregnancy as well as topics ranging from the death of a parent, transgender embodiment, academia, familial relationships, and the limitations of language.[2] Nelson also explores and criticizes ideas from several philosophers including Gilles Deleuze, Judith Butler and Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick.[3] The title is a reference to Roland Barthes' idea that to love someone is similar to an Argonaut who constantly replaces parts of their ship without the ship changing names.[4] The book won a National Book Critics Circle Award for criticism for books published in 2015.[5]
According to Book Marks, the book received "rave" reviews based on fourteen critic reviews with eleven being "rave" and three being "positive".[6] On Bookmarks September/October 2015 issue, a magazine that aggregates critic reviews of books, the book received a (4.0 out of 5) from based on critic reviews with a critical summary saying, "The Argonauts, "a loose yet intricate tapestry of memoir, criticism and gentle polemic [and] a magnificent achievement of thought, care and art" (Los Angeles Times), should interest readers of all kinds".[7] [8]