The book of Alice : poems / Diamond Forde.
In The Book of Alice, poet Diamond Forde honors her grandmother by recounting her life through the language and structure of the King James Bible, the only poetry her grandmother knew. Born in the Jim Crow South, Alice migrated to New York City during the Great Migration, where she married, divorced, and raised eight children while navigating racism and personal hardship. Blending found documents--such as recipes, a family tree, and census records--with imagined psalms and scriptures, Forde draws parallels between biblical narratives and marginalized Black experiences, creating both an elegy and a reimagined sacred text.
Record details
- ISBN: 9781668078402
- ISBN: 1668078406
- Physical Description: x, 82 pages : illustrations, genealogical table ; 23 cm.
- Edition: First Scribner trade paperback edition.
- Publisher: New York, NY : Scribner, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, LLC, 2026.
- Copyright: ©2026
Content descriptions
- Formatted Contents Note:
- Record of deaths: Diamond Forde -- Family tree -- Genesis -- Exodus -- Daughters -- Lamentations -- Revelations.
- Awards Note:
- James Laughlin Award, 2025.
Search for related items by subject
- Subject:
- American poetry > 21st century.
African American women > Poetry.
Bible. English > Poetry. - Genre:
- Poetry.
Search for related items by series
Available copies
- 7 of 8 copies available at NC Cardinal.
- 1 of 1 copy available at Onslow County Public Library. (Show)
Holds
- 0 current holds with 8 total copies.
Show Only Available Copies
| Location | Call Number / Copy Notes | Barcode | Shelving Location | Status | Due Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville Main Library | 811.6 FOR (Text) | 36015002706980 | Adult New Nonfiction | Available | - |
| Cumberland Headquarters | 811 FORDE (Text) | 31781070123607 | Adult Nonfiction | Available | - |
| High Point Library | 811.6 Forde (Text) | 30519010993155 | Adult Nonfiction | Available | - |
| Moss Memorial Library | 811.6 FOR (Text) | 80605000649938 | Adult Nonfiction | Available | - |
| Murphy Public Library | 811.6 FOR (Text) | 80605001958874 | Adult Nonfiction | Available | - |
| North Asheville Library | 811.6 FOR (Text) | 0020514033198 | Adult New Nonfiction | Available | - |
| Perry Memorial Library | 811.6 For (Text) | 33727002564838 | Adult New Nonfiction | Checked out | 06/28/2026 |
| Richard H. Thornton Main Library | 811.6 FORDE (Text) | 42756202535164 | Adult New Nonfiction | Available | - |
Accessibility Features
Summary:
In The Book of Alice, poet Diamond Forde honors her grandmother by recounting her life through the language and structure of the King James Bible, the only poetry her grandmother knew. Born in the Jim Crow South, Alice migrated to New York City during the Great Migration, where she married, divorced, and raised eight children while navigating racism and personal hardship. Blending found documents--such as recipes, a family tree, and census records--with imagined psalms and scriptures, Forde draws parallels between biblical narratives and marginalized Black experiences, creating both an elegy and a reimagined sacred text.
