You Could Make This Place Beautiful: A Memoir

Memoir is an ancient genre, having existed alongside fiction and poetry since the beginnings of recorded literature. The name is derived from the Latin memoria, meaning “memory” or “remembrance.” In memoir writing, the author speaks in first person and explores personal history. In the first century, Julius Caesar presented his experiences during war in the three-volume memoir Commentarii de Bello Civili. Since Caesar, many authors have redefined the genre. In 1782, Jean-Jacques Rousseau gave an intimate portrayal of his life in Confessions, inspiring the contemporary tell-all. Angela’s Ashes, the 1996 memoir by Frank McCourt, explores McCourt’s childhood and his experiences with abuse and poverty. In the 21st century, self-publishing and the internet have made memoir writing more accessible than ever, and the genre continues to grow.

In 2016, Maggie Smith, a poet with modest name recognition in the poetry community, went viral for her poem “Good Bones,” which channeled the mixture of anger and determination many Americans felt in the wake of that year’s presidential election. You Could Make This Place Beautiful examines the way her life changed as a result of her new fame, but it also reflects upon her history leading up to 2016.