Patti Smith on poetry, family, and the sources of her art
The legendary musician and writer reflects on her childhood, creative calling, and the role of writing in her life in a new autobiography.
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Patti Smith, the 79-year-old musician, poet, and artist, has released a new autobiography that delves deeper into her origins than ever before.
In *Le pain des anges* (The Bread of Angels), published by Gallimard, Smith returns to her childhood in a working-class New Jersey household within the Jehovah's Witnesses community. Her family, materially poor but intellectually rich, surrounded her with books. The moment her mother handed her a collection of poetry became, in Smith's telling, a decisive spark — the moment the dreamy child fell into poetry for life.
Smith has previously documented fragments of her life in *Just Kids* (her relationship with artist Robert Mapplethorpe), *M Train*, and *L'année du singe*. This book goes to the roots, tracing how she became the artist and person she is.
The narrative covers her bohemian years — her work in music, painting, journalism, and theatre — as well as her relationship with musician Fred "Sonic" Smith, whom she married. Smith paused her career to raise a family, a choice for which she faced criticism but never regretted. The book also reveals a family secret she discovered at age 70, which she discusses here for the first time.
Written in prose that is both airy and poetic, the 295-page book underscores the vital importance of creation to Smith's life. No need to be a devoted fan to appreciate the magic here — it speaks to anyone who has felt the pull of artistic ambition.