 | |
| Author | Dave Morice |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Subject | Poetry |
| Media type | Hardcover |
| Pages | 10,119 [1] |
Poetry City Marathon is a poetry book written by poet Dave "Dr. Alphabet" Morice. The book is 10,119 pages long, [1] and is most notable for being possibly one of the thickest single-volume books ever bound, [2] measuring in at two feet thick. [1]
The book was conceived in honor of Iowa City having been named "City of Literature" by the UNESCO. [2] The book was written between July and October of 2010 at a rate of approximately 100 pages every night for 100 nights while being sponsored by the publishing company Sackter House Media. [2] In order to accomplish this, Morice took in submissions from artists, students, and businesses. A digital version of the book in its work-in-progress phase was available for the public to access as it was being written, allowing anyone to witness the book's progress. The book was printed on 8 1/2 by 11-inch paper by Bu Wilson and pressed by University of Iowa Libraries Preservation employee Bill Voss, a process which was completed over the course of 24 hours. [3]
The book was put on display as a highlight at a 4-month exhibition hosted by the University of Iowa Main Library in 2011, honoring the Iowa Writers' Workshop and the Actualist Poetry Movement. [1] [3] The singular physical copy produced for the exhibition is presently located in the library's archives.[ citation needed ]
The then-head of the Preservation Department, Nancy Kraft, stated that she hoped to submit the book to the Guinness Book of World Records as a possible contender for the world's thickest book. [1] [3]