A History of Touching | Erin Vance
Bearing witness to women in history.
A History of Touch is a poetry collection about women in folklore and history who were ill, disabled, vilified or otherwise labelled ‘hysteric'. The work bears witness to the lives of women with varying experiences, such as a woman whose epilepsy was mistaken for demonic possession, Sarah Winchester’s grief, Mary Roff and her love of leeches, and the “witch”, Biddy Early. There is a poem about Bridget Cleary, who upon displaying her independence was burned to death by her husband, believing her to be a changeling. The collection also includes pieces on anchoresses, Rosemary Kennedy, and accused witches. Each poem discusses an aspect of or a moment in a woman’s life, connecting these moments to different aspects of embodiment and the natural world. The book comprises of three sections, each drifting between biographical poetry, experimental poetry, fairy tale sequences, folklore, and pieces that incorporate elements of confessional poetry.
A History of Touching | 
