In this extraordinary epic poem Anne Carson bridges the gap between classicism & the modern poetry & prose with a volcanic journey into the soul of a winged red monster named Geryon There is a strong mixture of whimsy & sadness in Geryon's story He is tormented as a boy by his brother escapes to a parallel world of photography & falls in love with Herakles
- a golden young man who leaves Geryon at the peak of infatuation Geryon retreats ever further into the world created by his camera until that glass house is suddenly & irrevocably shattered by Herakles' return Running throughout is Geryon's fascination with his wings the colour red & the fantastic accident of who he is AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF RED is a deceptively simple narrative layered with currents of meaning emotion & the truth about what it's like to be red It is a powerful & unsettling story that moves disturbs & delights