A story of becoming an artist by the godmother of rock'n'roll: the National Book Award-winning
author of Just Kids Patti Smith 'A poet of distinction' New York Times 'Glorious' NPR
'Rare and ferocious' Salon 'Shockingly beautiful' New York Magazine Everything contained
in this little book is true and written just like it was. The writing of it drew me from my
strange torpor and I hope that in some measure it will fill the reader with a vague and curious
joy... In this small luminous memoir the National Book Award-winner Patti Smith revisits
the most sacred experiences of her early years with truths so vivid they border on the
surreal. The author entwines her childhood self - and its 'clear unspeakable joy' - with
memories both real and envisioned from her twenties on New York's MacDougal Street the street
of cafés. Woolgathering was completed in Michigan on Patti Smith's 45th birthday and
originally published in a slim volume from Raymond Foye's Hanuman Books. Twenty years later
Bloomsbury is proud to present it in a much augmented edition featuring writing that was
omitted from the book's first printing along with new photographs and illustrations.
