The book will dive into easter eggs and literature references in Swift’s body of work
A deep dive into Taylor Swift’s discography
Titled Taylor Swift By the Book: The Literature Behind the Lyrics, from Fairy Tales to Tortured Poets, the book is authored by Rachel Feder and Tiffany Tatreau and promises to offer an in-depth exploration of the literature that has shaped Swift’s songwriting.
The book, published by Quirk Books and revealed by PEOPLE Magazine, examines Swift’s discography era by era, analyzing the literary inspirations behind her lyrics.
From her self-titled debut album in 2008 to her latest 2024 release, The Tortured Poets Department, Feder and Tatreau draw from their passion for both Swift and literature to uncover the hidden gems within her songs.
“We love Taylor Swift and her lyrics. We love literature and literary history,” Feder and Tatreau told PEOPLE.
“Once we pulled the invisible string, there was no stopping it – reading Swift’s lyrics the way we might read Shakespeare or The Great Gatsby led to so many thrilling discoveries and fascinating connections that we just can’t wait to share.”
The authors reveal that Swift’s lyrics reference a wide array of literary works and authors, from Homer’s The Iliad to poets like Dylan Thomas and Patti Smith, especially in The Tortured Poets Department.
According to Feder and Tatreau, the book will appeal to a broad audience, including Swift’s fans, literature lovers, and those who appreciate the intersection of pop culture and literary analysis.
Taylor Swift By the Book: The Literature Behind the Lyrics, from Fairy Tales to Tortured Poets is scheduled to hit shelves on November 26 and is now available for preorder wherever books are sold.
Eminem’s new album halts Swift’s Billboard streak
And talking about Swift and influence in music, the “Maroon” singer’s reign on the Billboard 200 has come to an end, thanks to Eminem’s latest album.
For months, Swift dominated the chart with The Tortured Poets Department, holding the No. 1 spot since early May.
However, Eminem’s new album, The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce), has debuted at No. 1 this week, breaking Swift’s streak.
Swift’s album had been on track to make history, sharing the record for the second-most weeks at No. 1 from a title’s debut in first place with Morgan Wallen’s One Thing at a Time.
Additionally, Swift had recently surpassed Whitney Houston for the longest-running leader on the Billboard 200 from its debut at No. 1, with The Tortured Poets Department holding the top position for twelve weeks.
