Olio

Olio is a groundbreaking poetry collection by Tyehimba Jess that documents the lives of African American performers and artists from the Civil War to World War I. The book combines multiple poetic forms, historical documents, interviews, and visual elements to create a unique literary experience. The work focuses on several key figures including Scott Joplin, Blind Tom Wiggins, Bert Williams, and the Fisk Jubilee Singers. These interconnected narratives explore how Black artists navigated the complex entertainment landscape of post-Civil War America while building the foundations of modern popular culture. The book's physical construction mirrors its content - pages can be read in multiple directions and some sections can be removed and reconfigured. The text integrates musical notation, photographs, illustrations, and unconventional page layouts. Through this experimental structure, Olio examines themes of identity, exploitation, resistance, and artistic legacy while questioning how history is documented and whose stories get preserved. The work challenges traditional forms of both poetry and historical narrative.

Readers describe Olio as challenging and complex, requiring deep focus and multiple readings to fully grasp. Many report needing to physically rotate the book and unfold pages to follow its experimental format. Readers value: - The innovative presentation of historical figures' voices - The blend of poetry, interviews, and song lyrics - The way pages can be torn out and reconfigured - The depth of research into Black performers' lives Common criticisms: - Difficult to follow narrative threads - Physical format makes digital reading impossible - Typography and layout can be overwhelming - Some found it too academic or inaccessible Ratings: Goodreads: 4.39/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (130+ ratings) Reader quote: "Like a Russian nesting doll made of historical documents, songs, and poems" - Goodreads reviewer Critical quote: "Requires work from the reader but rewards that effort" - Amazon reviewer

The Black Poets by Dudley Randall This anthology documents African American poetic voices from slavery through the 1960s, providing historical context and formal innovation that connects to Jess's archival exploration.

M Archive: After the End of the World by Alexis Pauline Gumbs The experimental structure and integration of historical artifacts creates an innovative chronicle of Black experience through fragmented narratives and unconventional formatting.

Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine The combination of visual elements, documentary evidence, and verse forms constructs a multimedia examination of Black identity in America.

The Big Smoke by Adrian Matejka This collection chronicles the life of boxer Jack Johnson through multiple voices and perspectives, using historical documentation to illuminate a significant Black cultural figure.

DOO-WOP ACITY by Douglas Kearney The typographical experimentation and exploration of Black musical history creates a visual-verbal intersection that echoes Olio's formal innovations.

★ "Olio" won the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry, making Tyehimba Jess one of only a handful of African American poets to receive this prestigious honor. ★ The book's innovative format includes pages that can be physically folded and connected in different ways, creating unique "sculptures" that reflect the interconnected nature of its stories. ★ Scott Joplin, one of the performers featured in the book, was known as the "King of Ragtime" and composed over 100 ragtime pieces, including the famous "The Entertainer" (1902). ★ The Fisk Jubilee Singers, highlighted in the collection, helped save their university from financial ruin by touring and performing spirituals, raising over $150,000 in the 1870s. ★ The term "olio" historically refers to a miscellaneous mixture or collection of various artistic performances, perfectly capturing the book's diverse array of voices and forms.