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"Tender Buttons" by Gertrude Stein

Pierre Turcotte Editor is proud to announce the publication of the poetry collection Tender Buttons by the American poet Gertrude Stein.

Tender Buttons by Gertrude Stein is a groundbreaking collection of experimental prose that defies traditional narrative and poetic structures. Divided into three sections—Objects, Food, and Rooms—the work challenges the boundaries of language, offering a playful, rhythmic, and abstract exploration of everyday things. Stein’s writing abandons conventional grammar and linear meaning, creating a rich tapestry of sound, repetition, and unexpected juxtapositions. By focusing on the sensory experience of words themselves, she invites readers to rethink the relationship between language and reality. This modernist masterpiece, first published in 1914, is a key text in the development of American literature and has influenced generations of writers and artists. Both puzzling and enchanting, Tender Buttons remains a testament to the power of language as an artistic medium, encouraging readers to experience words with fresh eyes and an open mind.

Gertrude Stein (1874–1946) was an influential American writer, poet, and art collector whose work helped shape the course of modernist literature and art in the early 20th century. Born in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, and raised in California, Stein moved to Paris in 1903, where she became a central figure in the avant-garde scene. Her Paris salon, shared with her lifelong partner Alice B. Toklas, attracted artists and writers such as Pablo Picasso, Ernest Hemingway, and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Stein’s innovative use of language and her rejection of traditional narrative structures are exemplified in works like Three Lives (1909) and Tender Buttons (1914), where she experiments with repetition, abstraction, and sound. Her 1933 memoir, The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas, became a bestseller and solidified her reputation as a literary pioneer. Stein’s legacy endures as a key voice in modernist literature and an inspiration for artists across disciplines.

You can buy the digital book in EPUB format in our store for €2,99.



STEIN, Gertrude. Tender Buttons. Montreal: Pierre Turcotte Editor, 2025, 81 p.




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