The Beauty of the Husband

The husband's beauty is an essay in 29 tangos, as the author called it, which stems from Keats' notion of the truth and the power of beauty.

Originally published in 2001, it is a poetic narrative about an old love that gives way to a failed marriage.

The nameless narrator – at times 'I', at times 'the wife' – tells us about the man referred to only as 'the husband', evoking moments in the couple's life that can be as romantic as they are erotic, amusing, unusual or decisive: a tango that can be danced to the end.

Born in 1950, Carson studied Classical Languages and was a teacher of Ancient Greek, something that deeply influenced her work. Her innovative style challenges the boundaries of literary genres, mixing erudite references with an experimental approach.

Intellectually precise and emotive, she addresses themes such as love, loss and time. Her work challenges narrative and poetic conventions, and creates unique reading experiences. Internationally recognized, she has received awards such as the Griffin Poetry Prize and the MacArthur Fellowship.