Annie Allen

Annie Allen is a book of poetry by African American author Gwendolyn Brooks that was published by Harper & Brothers in 1949. It received the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1950[1] and made her the first African American to ever receive a Pulitzer Prize.[2]

For the medical missionary, see Annie Allen (missionary).
Annie Allen
AuthorGwendolyn Brooks
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
GenrePoetry
PublisherHarper & Brothers
Publication date
October 1, 1949
Pages60
OCLC966612

Story

The work consists of three parts about an African-American girl, Annie, growing into womanhood. The first part, titled "Notes from the Childhood and Girlhood", includes 11 poems giving glimpses into Annie's birth, her mother, and her reaction to racism, killing, and death. "The Anniad", a mock heroic poem divided into 43 stanzas and three "Appendix" poems, tells of Annie's dreams of a lover who goes to war, returns to her, marries her, leaves her, and comes back home to die. The last section, "The Womanhood", shows Annie's outlook on a world she would like to change. The book of poetry shows how Annie has changed from an egotistic romantic to a realistic idealist.

Reception

Critics praised her use of an experimental form she called the sonnet-ballad.[2][3]

References
  1. "Annie Allen", The Concise Oxford Companion to African American Literature.
  2. Watkins, Mel (December 4, 2000). "Gwendolyn Brooks, Whose Poetry Told of Being Black in America, Dies at 83". The New York Times.
  3. "ANNIE ALLEN". Kirkus Reviews. August 24, 1949.


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