Nightwood

by Djuna Barnes
Nightwood cover
Good Books rating 3.0
Literary Fiction
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  • ID: 11559
  • Added: 2026-03-10
  • Updated: 2026-03-10
  • ISBN: 9780571266814
  • Publisher: Faber & Faber
  • Published: 2014-10-23
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 3

Nightwood is a cult classic that delves into the complex and tortured love lives of American expats and Europeans in 1920s Paris. The novel is renowned for its exotic and strange narrative, often compared to a prose poem, and is one of the earliest works to explicitly portray homosexuality. The story unfolds in a night-time underworld that is both eccentric and seedy, yet beautifully tragic. /n/n Praised by literary giants like T.S. Eliot and William S. Burroughs, Nightwood is celebrated for its bold modernist prose, brilliant wit, and deep emotional resonance. It is a hymn to the dispossessed and those who love too much, offering a unique and enduring contribution to literature.

Reviews
Publishers Weekly · 2026-03-10
mixed 3.50

The characters were original and the setting dark, but the admiration is not unequivocal. The language is praised, but the overall impact is mixed.

This reviewer admires the originality of the characters, especially Dr. O'Connor, and the dark setting of the novel. However, their admiration is not without reservations. They find the language and prose to be beautifully crafted, but the overall impact of the book is mixed. The reviewer appreciates the unique aspects of the novel but does not fully endorse it without some critique.

Quick quotes

    The characters were stupendously original (especially the transvestite Dr. O'Connor), the setting dark

    I admire Nightwood, but not unequivocally

    The language is praised, but the overall impact is mixed

Lesbrary · Bee · 2020-01-08
disappointing 2.50

The novel felt exclusionary and did not invite the reader to engage and enjoy as much as other lesbian fiction. The language is vivid but the plot is thin.

Bee found Nightwood to be a challenging read, feeling that it was exclusionary and did not invite the reader to engage as much as other lesbian fiction. They appreciated the vivid language and prose but found the plot to be thin and not as engaging. The reviewer struggled with the novel's approach and found it less enjoyable compared to other works in the genre.

Quick quotes

    The root of my struggle with Nightwood is that it felt exclusionary

    I am used to lesbian fiction which invites its readers to engage and enjoy

    There's just not much else going on apart from pretty words

The Guardian · 2018-05-15
divided 3.00

Opinions are divided, with some finding the novel exhilarating and others bafflingly tedious. The slim plot and copious description complicate the reading experience.

The Guardian's reading group had divided opinions on Nightwood. Some found it exhilarating, appreciating the unique style and vivid descriptions. Others found it bafflingly tedious, struggling with the slim plot and copious description. The novel's complexity and style make it a polarizing read, with some loving it and others finding it challenging to enjoy.

Quick quotes

    Opinions have divided starkly on May's reading group

    Does Djuna Barnes's novel ever settle anywhere between exhilaration and baffling tedium?

    Nightwood's slim plot, multi-characterization, and copious description certainly complicate content 'translation'

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