Patti Smith's "Bread of Angels" Explores Childhood and Marriage
Patti Smith, revered as the grandmother of punk, revisits her early years and marriage in her new memoir, Bread of Angels. The book offers a personal, though sometimes flawed, glimpse into the life of the visionary poet.
Smith's Achievements and Literary Impact
- Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
- Recipient of the French Legion of Honor
- Author of the acclaimed 2010 memoir Just Kids
Maureen Corrigan's Perspective
Maureen Corrigan, a New York native and book critic, regards Just Kids as a vital part of New York's literary canon. She shares her thoughts on Smith's new memoir:
"I teach Patti Smith's iconic memoir, Just Kids, almost every year in my New York literature course at Georgetown. Many students, some unfamiliar with Smith before, often say it becomes their favorite book. Like other great New York memoirs, Just Kids tells a beginning story — Smith remembering her arrival at Port Authority in 1967, sleeping in parks, and meeting Robert Mapplethorpe, her soulmate. Part of the charm for my students is Smith's faith that if she threw herself into New York, the city would support her."
"Bread of Angels" as Sequel and Prequel
Corrigan describes Bread of Angels as both a continuation and an origin story linked to Just Kids, expanding on Smith's life before and after the events of her first memoir.
Author's summary: Patti Smith's Bread of Angels deepens the reader's understanding of her journey by exploring her formative years and marriage, extending the narrative begun in Just Kids.