Eunoia (book)

Eunoia
AuthorChristian Bök
LanguageEnglish
SubjectUnivocalic poetry
PublisherCoach House Books
Publication date
2001
Publication placeCanada
Media typeHardback
Pages112
ISBN1-55245-092-9

Eunoia (2001) is an anthology of univocalics by Canadian poet Christian Bök. Each chapter is written using words limited to consonants and a single vowel, producing sentences like: "Hassan can, at a handclap, call a vassal at hand and ask that all staff plan a bacchanal".[1] The author believes "his book proves that each vowel has its own personality, and demonstrates the flexibility of the English language."[1] The work was inspired by the Oulipo group, which seeks to create works using constrained writing techniques.[2]

The book was published in Canada in 2001 by Coach House Books; sold 20,000 copies; and won the 2002 Canadian Griffin Poetry Prize.[3] Canongate Books published a British edition in 2008.[4] The book sold well in the United Kingdom, making The Times list of the year's top 10 books and becoming the top-selling book of poetry in Britain.[3]

The title eunoia, which literally means good thinking, is a medical term for the state of normal mental health, and is also the shortest word in the English language which contains all five vowels. The cover features a chromatic representation of Arthur Rimbaud's sonnet "Voyelles" (Vowels) in which each vowel is assigned a particular colour and consonants appear grey.

The "E" chapter was set to music by Kate Soper in her chamber piece Helen Enfettered.[5]

  1. ^ a b "Beautiful vowels". BBC Today. news.bbc.co.uk. 2008-10-30. Retrieved 2009-01-05.
  2. ^ Bök, p. 111.
  3. ^ a b "Calgary poet hits U.K. bestseller list". cbc.ca. 2009-01-05. Retrieved 2009-01-05.
  4. ^ Mark Sanderson (2008-10-29). "Literary Life". The Telegraph. London: telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-01-05.
  5. ^ Woolfe, Zachary (July 22, 2014). "At 50, Festival Is Reunion of Sorts". The New York Times.