Letters to Gala

by Paul Éluard, Jesse Browner (Translator), Jean Claude Carrière (prologist)

Gathers the letters written by the young French poet to Gala, the woman he continued to love after their divorce

Genres: Poetry, France, Nonfiction

364 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1989

About the author

Paul Éluard was the pen name of Eugène Émile Paul Grindel. French poet, a founder of Surrealism with Louis Aragon and André Breton among others, one of the important lyrical poets of the 20th century. Éluard rejected later Surrealism and joined the French Communist Party. Many of his works reflect the major events of the century, such as the World Wars, the Resistance against the Nazis, and the political and social ideals of the 20th-century.

Reviews

[Noah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Die deutsche Ausgabe dieser Briefsammlung ist ein kleiner Etikettenschwindel. Es sind nicht viele Liebesbriefe dabei und das ist gut so. Der Briefwechsel zwischen Eluard und Gala (seiner ersten Liebe, dann ersten Frau, später in einer Menage a trois mit Max Ernst, später die Frau Dalis) gibt tiefe Einblicke in die Strömungen und Zerwürfnisse innerhalb der Surrealisten, bis Eluard, der nicht ins Exil geht, durch den Ausbruch des zweiten Weltkrieges zur Randfigur wird. 1/3 der Briefe dreht sich immer um Geld, auch das interessant. Diese billige dtv Taschenbuchausgabe ist gut übersetzt und vorzüglich mit Fußnoten und Hintergrundinformationen gespickt.

[Felicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first it felt odd to read a one-sided correspondence, but the more I got into the book the closer I felt to Eluard, and to Gala as well. Something about having only his point of view, and that I had to accept it from the beginning, and knowing that Gala had preserved his letters despite his wishes, made me so fond of both of them, and drew me into their world, often filled with upheaval. Most of the letters take place before WWII broke out, but the last few take place years after, and those held particular power, after having been through so much with them through their letters.
This intimate collection spurs me to read more of his work, and also gave me insight into my own creative and personal relationships. A lovely book.

Plus! All of the footnotes introduced me to the larger world of the Surrealists, many of his friends who I wasn't familiar with. Almost like a Surrealist index or primer.

[Tosh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surrealist poet Paul Eluard's twisted erotic romantic letters to his first wife Gala, who is more famous for being Dali's eccentric wife. Well, they were all eccentric, in other words crazy. But this sense of 'mad love' is good for one's soul. A great moment(s) in time that is captured by one of the chief figures in the Surrealist movement.

[Nur Vatansever]

Tutku mu? Ben görmedim. Günlük hayat, terzi siparişleri, şu tarihte geleceğim,sonra şuraya gideceğimler. Şairin tutkusu böyle ise Dali'nin deliliği tabi tercih edilir .

[Eliflokman · Rating 4 out of 5]

very exclusive