is an essay-poem that questions the concept of biography-the form of the genre and how a person is remembered. The mythic quality of Nancy Cunard as mid-20th century literary force was well-known to me. I've been curious about how and why mythic status is created.  The following piece requires Netscape 2.0 or later. It begins with Pre/Misconceptions I had about Nancy Cunard and explores them. Earlier I did a similar heuristic exploration involving Willa Cather, called "Black Hawk ('My' Antonia)," which can be seen here for comparison. I also did a piece about Josephine Baker that follows her eyes throughout her life. Ocean Crossing tracks Nancy Cunard's ivory bracelets, charged on many levels, at times, with irony.  /* The link to the Participatory Age has been updated by the Electronic Literature Lab in May of 2025. The original linked to gem4.html, which is not found in this archive. We have updated the link to point to the same work that is being held in the Christy Sheffield Sanford Archive at the Electronic Literature Lab. */

     I expanded the biographical approach to include autobiographical material, related to jewelry and armoring, the subject that repeatedly surfaced as I read about Nancy Cunard. The use of an object to follow a life is an interesting idea. A similar method of stirring fresh associations was eloquently realized by Roland Barthes in his abecedaria treatment of his own life. The linear quality that naturally attends a lifeline was destroyed in the process. Authorial inclusion/intrusion has many historical antecedents. The increase of this tendency in the last half of this century can be attributed to many ideas, not the least of which is what I call "The Participatory Age." 

     An extensive collection of Nancy Cunard's poetry, letters and Hours Press publications are housed at the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center in Austin, Texas. Nancy Cunard: Brave Poet, Indomitable Rebel 1896-1965, a fascinating book, features testimonials from Nancy's friends and colleagues, edited by Hugh Ford, Chilton Book Co., Philadelphia, 1968. Begin Ocean Crossing. Bon voyage!