ABSTRACT
Like Sarah Manguso, Maggie Nelson narrates the transition to later-life motherhood while also exploring new coupledom. One of Nelson’s many innovations in self-writing is to read philosophy through a personal lens. She is transparent about both literary and theoretical precursors, just as her book mingles literature and philosophy. Nelson is a non-male doing philosophy. Some have argued that Nelson drifts into the murky waters of appropriation while narrating the significant emotional and physical journeys undertaken by Dodge. Nelson is an able chronicler of step-parenthood, a role she takes on when she throws in her lot with Dodge. Nelson takes us to a class with Christina Crosby at Wesleyan, who teaches her feminist theory as Nelson finds herself “unconsciously gravitating toward the stern and nonmaternal type.” Nelson echoes the other midlife self-writers’ confidence, as well as their forward-facing dip into the past.
