Cocteau: Les Enfants Terribles

by Robin Buss

English, French

Genres: France, Fiction, Classics

85 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1986

About the author

Robin Buss was an English translator, journalist, film critic and Francophile. As well as French, he was fluent in Russian, Italian, Swedish, Spanish and Welsh. As a film critic, he championed French film noir and published three works on European cinema. He wrote critical studies of works by Vigny and Cocteau, and became a leading translator of classic French fiction, making Zola, Sartre, Dumas and others accessible to English-speakers.

Reviews

[Gabriella · Rating 2 out of 5]

I appreciate the whole surrealist element but I genuinely spent the entirety of the book having no idea what was going on.

[Erik · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first Cocteau book. I can positively say this is the best and sharpest portrayal of childhood irrationality I've read about since "High Winds in Jamaica". Although for a modern reader it's peculiar that the "kids" in question are older teens and not actual pre-adolescents.
There are some noteworthy passages and brilliant revelations. The prose was good enough in translation, not flowing smoothly 100% of the time yet vivid and not excessive.
A strange, worthy lot. Rec it.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

What can I say: this book is VERY Cocteau; it's a bizarre little read about a truly twisted pair of siblings. The illustrations by Cocteau definitely add to the enjoyment of this surreal novella.

[Jemima Pike · Rating 3 out of 5]

a compelling concept, the narrative carries you along like a dream, with airy imagery and muddled intentions. Although it's only 130 or so pages, it left me replaying scenes in my mind for hours after finishing. very surrealist

[Halli Villegas · Rating 4 out of 5]

loved it - very French between the wars, very Jean Cocteau

[Jamie May · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun little read for a night. Great vocabulary range. A look at the lives of spoiled brats

[Faith · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not understand the book at all. I know it’s surrealist but I feel that’s better translated into film as I enjoyed Orphée. Perhaps better if I read it in the original French…

[Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Aussi noir que bien écrit

[Airidas · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not sure whether it's about madness or the good 'ol incest.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an unusal read to say the least but an interesting concept. i would another by this author and its certainly a different way to view things, i believe he was part of the surrelist movement at the start of it all so this could explain a lot. if your looking for something different this could be for you.

[Katherine Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

Can't seem to make up my mind about this book. Spent a lot of chapters not really understanding what was going on and other chapters enjoying every word! Quite surreal, interesting characters. Would read again, and probably give it 4 stars the second time round if I understood it a bit better

[Elena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perverted and disturbing in the most outstanding way.