Taylor Swift by the Book: The Literature Behind the Lyrics, from Fairy Tales to Tortured Poets - Hardcover
by Rachel Feder (Author), Tiffany Tatreau (Author)
From a Robert Frost poem on her debut album to the myth of Cassandra on The Tortured Poets Department, Taylor Swift's lyrics are filled with literary connections.
Make sure you're catching them all with this expert guide to the novels, poems, and plays that influence her songwriting. "Even the most obsessive Swiftie will discover new Easter eggs in these pages."--Oprah Daily Taylor Swift by the Book: The Literature Behind the Lyrics, from Fairy Tales to Tortured Poets is an entertaining and insightful guide to the novels, poems, myths, and literary influences hidden throughout Taylor Swift's songwriting. Written by literature professor Rachel Feder and musical theater artist Tiffany Tatreau, this fan-friendly deep dive helps Swifties uncover the literary Easter eggs woven across Taylor's iconic discography. Inside, readers will discover:- The literary roots behind Taylor Swift's lyrics and imagery
- Connections to Shakespeare, Emily Dickinson, The Great Gatsby, Daphne du Maurier, Romantic poetry, mythology, and more
- Deep dives into recurring themes like heartbreak, revenge, nostalgia, identity, and reinvention
- Hidden references and lyrical Easter eggs across Taylor's albums and eras
- Accessible literary analysis written for fans, not academics
- New ways to experience favorite songs through storytelling and symbolism
Perfect for Swifties, book lovers, pop-culture fans, and readers who love analyzing lyrics line by line, Taylor Swift by the Book transforms familiar songs into a fascinating literary treasure hunt. Grab your cardigan, open the book, and start spotting the references hidden between the lines.
Author Biography
Rachel Feder holds a Ph.D. in English from the University of Michigan and is an associate professor of English and literary arts at the University of Denver. She is the author of The Darcy Myth: Jane Austen, Literary Heartthrobs, and the Monsters They Taught Us to Love; Harvester of Hearts: Motherhood Under the Sign of Frankenstein; and Birth Chart, a poetry collection. With McCormick Templeman, she is the coauthor of AstroLit: A Bibliophile's Guide to the Stars. Rachel also edited the Norton Library's edition of Dracula.
Tiffany Tatreau is an actor, singer, and teaching artist born and raised in Southern California. She has starred in various musicals across the country and is best known for her portrayal of Ocean O'Connell Rosenberg in the musical and original cast album Ride the Cyclone. Tiffany has a BFA in musical theater from Roosevelt University and resides in New York City. She is currently performing in the national tour of A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical.