Patti smith autobiography robert mapplethorpe art

2010 book by Patti Smith

For the album by Mat Kearney, see Just Kids (album). For the television series, see Just Kids!

Just Kids is a memoir by Patti Smith, published on January 19, 2010, documenting her relationship with artist Robert Mapplethorpe.^[1]

"I didn't write it to be cathartic," she noted.

"I wrote it because Robert asked me to… Our relationship was such that I knew what he would want and the quality of what he deserved.

Patti smith autobiography robert mapplethorpe art

So that was my agenda for writing that book. I wrote it to fulfill my vow to him, which was on his deathbed. In finishing, I did feel that I'd fulfilled my promise."^[2]

Critical reception

On Book Marks, the book received a "rave" consensus, based on twelve critic reviews: nine "rave", two "positive", and one "mixed".^[3] The book received an 83% from The Lit Review based on twenty-three critic reviews and the consensus of the reviews being, "A memoir-slash-love letter to Robert Mapplethorpe, Smith has