57 pages • 1 hour read
Maggie NelsonThe Argonauts
Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 2015A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Maggie Nelson’s The Argonauts is an autotheoretical work combining her personal experiences of marriage and motherhood with reflections on queer and feminist theory, psychoanalysis, and developmental psychology; the narrative loosely follows her relationship with artist Harry Dodge, their marriage, and the birth of their child, Iggy, while interweaving philosophical musings and non-linear recollections. This text deals with terminal illness and gender dysphoria.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Maggie Nelson's The Argonauts receives high praise for its lyrical prose and profound exploration of gender, sexuality, and family. Critics commend its intellectual rigor and emotional depth. However, some find its non-linear narrative challenging. Overall, it's celebrated for its thought-provoking and deeply personal narrative style.
Who Should Read The Argonauts?
Readers who appreciate The Argonauts by Maggie Nelson are often drawn to memoirs and critical theory that explore gender, sexuality, and identity. Fans of works like Gender Trouble by Judith Butler or Ariel by Sylvia Plath will resonate with Nelson's intimate and scholarly prose that challenges conventional norms.