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Donna Stonecipher

ドナ・ストーンシファー

Donna Stonecipher

Profile

Gender
Female
Nationality
American
Languages
English
Residence History
Seattle (childhood) → Tehran (childhood) → Prague (1994–1998) → Berlin (resident)

Career

Occupations
Poet, Translator
Active Years
2000-

Education

University of Iowa Writers' Workshop
English and Creative Writing
Degree: MFA
Year of Graduation: 2001
Country: United States
Received an MFA
University of Georgia
English and Creative Writing (PhD program)
Degree: PhD
Country: United States
Completed PhD in English and Creative Writing (year unspecified)

Awards

NPR Best Books of 2023, "Books We Love"
2023
Work: The Ruins of Nostalgia
Organization: NPR
Result: リスト掲載
New York Times 10 Best Poetry Collections 2018
2018
Work: Transaction Histories
Organization: The New York Times
Result: リスト掲載
NEA Translation Grant
2015
Organization: National Endowment for the Arts
Result: 助成
National Poetry Series
2007
Organization: National Poetry Series
Result: 受賞
Contemporary Poetry Series
2002
Work: The Reservoir
Organization: Contemporary Poetry Series
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

The Reservoir

2002 Poetry collection

Early collection of poems exploring urban life and memory.

citymemorypersonal history

Souvenir de Constantinople

2007 Poetry collection

A collection of poems using cityscapes and travel fragments as motifs.

travelcitymemory

The Cosmopolitan

2008 Poetry collection

Poems focusing on cosmopolitan perspectives and urban living.

cosmopolitanismcityanonymity

Model City

2015 Poetry collection

Poetic meditations on the idea of model cities and urban planning. Sales increased after a positive podcast review.

urban designmodelingmodernity
Translations
  • Cité modèle (bilingual French-English edition)

Transaction Histories

2018 Poetry collection

A poetry collection thematizing finance, exchange, and interactions in urban spaces. Named by The New York Times as one of the best poetry books of 2018.

economyexchangeurbanity

Cité modèle

2021 Poetry collection (bilingual French-English)

Bilingual French-English edition of Model City, featuring a French translation by Jérémy Victor Robert.

translationcitybilingualism

The Ruins of Nostalgia

2023 Poetry collection

A recent collection exploring memory, nostalgia, and urban landscapes. Listed among NPR's Best Books of 2023.

nostalgiamemoryurban ruins

Bibliography

  • The Reservoir (2002)
  • Souvenir de Constantinople (2007)
  • The Cosmopolitan (2008)
  • Model City (2015)
  • Transaction Histories (2018)
  • Cité modèle (2021, bilingual)
  • The Ruins of Nostalgia (2023)
  • Prose Poetry and the City (criticism, 2018)

Translations by Author

  • Ascent (translation of Ludwig Hohl, 2012)
  • études (translation of Friederike Mayröcker, 2020)
  • cahier (translation of Friederike Mayröcker, 2024)

Translations of Works

  • Cité modèle (French translation of Model City, 2021)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
cool, observational depictions of urban landscapesconcise, analytical poetic languagefragmentary and episodic structures
Recurring Motifs
citymemorymovement/travelanonymity

Legacy

Donna Stonecipher has gained international recognition for contemporary poetry focusing on urbanity and cosmopolitanism; she is also known for her translations and criticism. Her work has been highlighted by outlets such as The New York Times and NPR.

In Popular Culture

  • Model City was featured on Frank Skinner's Poetry Podcast, which contributed to increased sales
  • Featured in media lists such as NPR's "Books We Love" and The New York Times' best-of lists

Quotes

  • Named one of the best poetry books of 2018.
    Source: The New York Times (article by David Orr) (2018)

Trivia

  • Grew up in Seattle and Tehran.
  • Currently lives in Berlin.
  • Translates from French and German.
  • Transaction Histories (2018) was named one of the New York Times' best poetry books of 2018.
  • The Ruins of Nostalgia (2023) was listed among NPR's Best Books of 2023.