Dark Eros: Black Erotic Writings [Paperback]

Reginald Martin Ph.D. (Editor), Lenard Moore (Afterword), Ishmael Reed (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 15, 1999

The overwhelming power of the erotic imagination is brought to full flower in this masterful collection of African-American writings. With pieces from more than seventy writers, Dark Eros explores the erotic possibilities as imagined and reported by authors both well-known and emerging. Using the literary to trace the range of the erotic impulse, this collection of writers and writings-poetry, fiction, and essays-covers the length and breadth of styles and emotions in contemporary African-American writing. As editor Reginald Martin notes, "The pieces collected in this volume throb with the tempo and tenor of writers who have defined the erotic verve of our urban times. Los Angeles, New York City, Miami, New Orleans-every place there is a bus line or dance club has produced African-American eroticism..." The result is a volume that is both compelling and necessary-an exploration of the African-American through the erotic.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

A kind of sequel to Erotique Noire, which Reginald Martin coedited, this is a collection of erotic fiction and poetry and essays about the erotic by black writers. While the book is definitely for adults only, there is nothing pornographic here. Some of the writing is romantic and some earthy, but what these poems and stories share is the goal of reclaiming and redefining black sexuality, which has so often been defined for blacks but less often by them. Much of the material printed here comes, by design, from "writers new to the public." --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Editor Martin, who coedited Erotique Noire (LJ 9/1/92), continues his study of erotica by African American writers with this compilation of short fiction and avant-garde poetry by largely unknown authors; most of the 70-odd pieces are published here for the first time. Although a few of the pieces portray sex in sensual or humorous tones, many treat it disturbingly to express rage at both relationships and the inner-city black experience. Martin's annotations and the afterword by poet Lenard D. Moore attempt to place the works in the context of modern African American urban literature and to offer an academic introduction to a genre that would otherwise have limited appeal. The result may be interesting, but many of the pieces lack polish or eroticism. Recommended for libraries with large African American collections.?Ellen Flexman, Indianapolis-Marion Cty. P.L.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin; 1st edition (January 15, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312198507
• ISBN-13: 978-0312198503
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,071,498 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brave, bold, and beautiful! Martin's finest., April 20, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Dark Eros: Black Erotic Writings (Paperback)

Dark Eros is a sweet and sensuous journey where you travel with Reginald Martin, unprotected. From the articulate and pointed preface, to the last selection, the reader is rewarded with a myriad of poems and prose that move from tender renderings to spontaneous and passionate pieces, full of rhythmic energy. The book is a consant "eargasm" to the reader who is moved by the joy of words. Readers beware! Martin is a trickster and these poems are encoded with layers of subtext. Approach these pieces as you would a favorite sensual pleasures of black feeling, black love, black passion.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent! Sensual and Soulful!, April 17, 1998

By 

Edward Saunders Jr. "hunnybeared" (Nashville, TN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dark Eros: Black Erotic Writings (Hardcover)

I love this effort! It is on par with the other tasty African-American book-Erotique Noire! Although I would say that EN is better-I still like it a lot! More-more-more-more! I have to keep my praise and enthisiasm simple when it comes to books like this one.It has helped me to understand that my thoughts, fantasies, dreams that happen to be erotic are natural and OK! It also really shows how Black Writing has come out of the closet and is viable, profitable, and necessary. Write on! (pun intended)-ed-

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Warm, September 6, 2001

By 

"rkfj" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dark Eros: Black Erotic Writings (Paperback)

I am not too crazy about this book. The stories were okay, the poetry well written, but it felt like an Erotique Noire : Black Erotica rip off. I understand this editor was involved in that particular book. Maybe he should hook up with those two again and write another book.