Eunoia

‘Eunoia’, which means ‘beautiful thinking’, is the shortest English word to contain all five vowels. This book also contains them all, but never at the same time.

Each of Eunoia’s five chapters is univocalic; that is, each chapter uses only one vowel. A challenging feat of composition and technical skill, Christian Bök has worked this striking conceit into a series of compelling narratives and rhythms. A unique personality for each vowel soon emerges: A is courtly, E is elegiac, I is lyrical, O is jocular, U is obscene.

A triumphant feat, seven years in the making, this uncanny work of avant-garde literature is one of the most surprising, delightful and awe-inspiring books of the year. Eunoia was the deserving winner of the 2002 Griffin Poetry Prize.

Christian Bök is no ordinary poet. Watch this and see.

Praise for Eunoia:

'Linguistically daring and delightfully inventive...engaging, witty and moving.'

Scotland on Sunday

'Amazing... impressive... It's beautiful, its funny and it's moving.'

Globe and Mail