The Europe of Trusts

The Europe of Trusts collects three of Susan Howe's early poetry works: Pythagorean Silence, Defenestration of Prague, and The Liberties. The volume was first published in 1990 by Sun & Moon Press. The poems combine historical research with experimental forms, incorporating archival materials, visual elements, and fragmented text. Howe examines figures from European and American history through unconventional poetic structures that challenge traditional narrative approaches. The text moves between prose and verse while exploring themes of colonialism, power, and the role of women in history. Through her distinctive typographical arrangements and use of white space, Howe creates multilayered works that function simultaneously as poetry, historical documentation, and visual art. The collection represents Howe's ongoing investigation into how history is recorded and transmitted, particularly focusing on voices and perspectives that have been overlooked or suppressed in conventional historical accounts. The work questions established systems of knowledge and authority while proposing alternative ways of understanding the past.

Readers note the book's experimental and challenging nature, with fragmented text and unconventional page layouts that explore history, memory, and literature. Readers appreciate: - The layered literary references and historical research - The visual poetry elements and typography - The examination of female voices in American history - The connections between language and violence Common criticisms: - Dense and inaccessible writing style - Requires multiple readings to grasp - Limited context for historical references - Physical text layout can be disorienting From Amazon reviews: "A puzzle that rewards patient engagement" - One reader found the "architectural approach to words on the page transforms meaning itself." Goodreads: 4.21/5 (119 ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (6 ratings) One Goodreads reviewer wrote: "Like archeological fragments being unearthed... requires work but reveals deeper truths about history and power." Several readers recommend starting with Howe's other works before attempting this collection.

Dictee by Theresa Hak Kyung Cha This experimental text combines poetry, autobiography, and historical documentation through fragmented language and exploration of cultural displacement.

Deepstep Come Shining by C.D. Wright The text weaves Southern narratives with avant-garde poetics through interconnected fragments and historical excavation.

The Midnight by Susan Howe This hybrid work connects personal history with textual scholarship through archival research and visual poetics.

Nox by Anne Carson This book-length elegy presents a collage of photographs, translations, and poetry to reconstruct memory and loss.

Zong! by M. NourbeSe Philip The text transforms legal documents from an 18th-century maritime massacre into fragmented poetry through erasure and decomposition of language.

🔖 Susan Howe wrote The Europe of Trusts during a pivotal period of experimental poetry in America, combining historical research with avant-garde techniques to create layered, multifaceted works. 📚 The book consists of three long-form poems: "Pythagorean Silence," "Defenestration of Prague," and "The Liberties," each exploring different aspects of European and American history. 🎭 "The Liberties" section focuses on the relationship between Shakespeare's sister Cordelia from King Lear and Stella, Jonathan Swift's companion, creating an imaginative dialogue across centuries. 📜 Howe incorporates various textual sources including historical documents, literary works, and personal letters, often presenting them in unconventional typographical arrangements that challenge traditional reading practices. 🎨 The visual layout of many pages in the book resembles concrete poetry, with words scattered across the page in geometric patterns, reflecting Howe's background as a visual artist before becoming a poet.