Three volumes of poetry by Ruth Colombo will soon be published. While we wait to see them, I have mocked up the cover designs I did in collaboration with Ruth. She has long appreciated Gustav Klimt’s image of Pallas Athena, now in the public domain, so she chose it for the set.
The epic poetry, titled Sisters Agonistes as a group, depicts struggles through phases of female lives, from maidenhood, through the middle years of fertility and finally to old age. The form is classical and the players are figures and deities of ancient literature.
I have been reading the volumes as PDF text, looking up references frequently. A scholarly knowledge of Greek and Roman literature would certainly deepen understanding of these complex dramatic works. They won’t be for everyone, but I have found much that is accessible. Ruth’s writing is strong and well-structured, packed with layers of meaning.