Zami: A New Spelling of My Name

A new Penguin Vitae hardcover edition of Audre Lorde’s trailblazing biomythography that cemented the poet’s legacy as a leading voice in intersectional feminism and 20th century literature.

In her 1982 genre-fluid memoir, Zami: A New Spelling of My Name, Audre Lorde reflects on how her identity was formed by her relationships with women throughout her life, from her early memories of her mother attempting to shield her from the racism and sexism ingrained in American society to the solidarity she found in lesbian communities in downtown New York in the 1950s and among women whom she worked beside. With candor and trenchant yet simple detail, Lorde paints an intimate portrait of her life, granting readers a window into the formative experiences of one of the greatest writers and feminist thinkers of the 20th century. Zami: A New Spelling of My Name will be the second Lorde title to be featured in the Penguin Vitae collection and will feature a new foreword.

Author Biography

AUDRE LORDE (1934-1992) published nine volumes of poetry and five works of prose. She was a recipient of many distinguished honors and awards, including honorary doctorates from Hunter, Oberlin, and Haverford Colleges, and was named New York State Poet (1991-1993).