Intimate and intriguing, Patti Smith's memoir offers new revelations

Intimate and Intriguing: Patti Smith's New Memoir

The legendary punk rock icon Patti Smith has created a number of books interweaving reflections on her artistic pursuits with memories and photos of those she loved and lost. Her new work, Bread of Angels, is her most personal yet.

A Date Charged with Meaning

Smith intentionally chose November 4 as the release date for Bread of Angels. It marks both the death of her husband, Fred "Sonic" Smith, in 1994, and the birth of her longtime collaborator Robert Mapplethorpe in 1946.

"The love of my life and the artist of my life," writes the acclaimed musician and author.

A Journey Through Memory and Renewal

This memoir revisits familiar themes from Smith's earlier works but offers new emotional clarity. It traces her path from her working-class roots in Pennsylvania and South Jersey to her rise in the music world—a career she paused during marriage and reignited after widowhood.

The Meaning Behind the Title

The title, Bread of Angels, refers to what Smith describes as the "unpremeditated gestures of kindness" she encountered throughout her life. These moments sustain the hope and gratitude that define her outlook.

A Continuing Literary Legacy

Over the last fifteen years, Smith has built an intimate library of slim, reflective volumes blending meditations on art and memory. Among them stands her National Book Award-winning Just Kids (2010), a moving chronicle of her relationship with Mapplethorpe, often considered her most enduring masterpiece.

Author’s summary: Patti Smith’s Bread of Angels intertwines grief, love, and artistic rebirth, turning memory into a quiet celebration of endurance and human connection.

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NPR NPR — 2025-11-07

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