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Atlas Arkhive #8
Raymond Roussel
Raymond Roussel (1877-1933) - poet, novelist, playwright, musician, chess enthusiast, neurasthenic, homosexual, drug addict, probable suicide - an astonishing individual whose life was almost as intriguing as his unique literary opus.
- GenresBiography
350 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2001
72 people want to read
About the author
François Caradec
61 books1 followerMembre de L’Oulipo, régent « toponome et celtipète » du Collège de Pataphysique, auteur de biographies de référence de Lautréamont, d’Alfred Jarry, de Raymond Roussel, d’Alphonse Allais, de Willy et de Jane Avril, François Caradec était l’un des spécialistes français de la bande dessinée, et cultivait pastiches et mystifications de tout ordre.
Il suivit de près la création de l’Ouvroir de Bande dessinée Potentielle (Oubapo).
Il fut aussi, avec Jacques Jouet, Paul Fournel et Hervé Le Tellier, de l'Oulipo, l’un des protagonistes de l'émission de radio « Des Papous dans la tête » de France-Culture.
Il suivit de près la création de l’Ouvroir de Bande dessinée Potentielle (Oubapo).
Il fut aussi, avec Jacques Jouet, Paul Fournel et Hervé Le Tellier, de l'Oulipo, l’un des protagonistes de l'émission de radio « Des Papous dans la tête » de France-Culture.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 17, 2007
The main source for everything that is Raymond Roussel. A fascinating character out of the early 20th Century. A world traveler via ships who never left his cabin, a man who built probably the first luxury car (with toilet and later owned by Boris Vian), and a writer of great imagination, The fact that he was rejected by the masses for being too weird, when he thought himself to be a bestseller type of writer. Only weirdos like the Surrrealists thought he was a genius. Well, Roussel as well shared that opinion about himself - and both are right. He was an one of a kind genius.
When his books failed (he paid for them) he went on to put together an expensive theater piece - that also failed. Never to give up, Roussel is sort of a combination of Ed Wood & Lewis Carroll (with the puzzles). He was a man with a vision, and only the few caught it. But one of the few was Marcel Duchamp - and the fact that he went to one of the performances - well, it changed everything. Modern art became a different type of animal thanks to Duchamp - and all comes down to Raymond Roussel. Imagine that!
When his books failed (he paid for them) he went on to put together an expensive theater piece - that also failed. Never to give up, Roussel is sort of a combination of Ed Wood & Lewis Carroll (with the puzzles). He was a man with a vision, and only the few caught it. But one of the few was Marcel Duchamp - and the fact that he went to one of the performances - well, it changed everything. Modern art became a different type of animal thanks to Duchamp - and all comes down to Raymond Roussel. Imagine that!
December 6, 2024
This is a far better biography of Roussel. The photographs also are priceless. There are hilarious anecdotes of so-called eccentricity. Roussel wasn't an "eccentric". He wasn't a genius because there is no such thing. The stories here are so entertaining! The account of his later years are truly sad, especially on his death by suicide. I do dream often of Roussel living longer but for himself and departing decisively from any one of his methods.
August 10, 2014
The book gives it all away, so if you'd rather remain enchanted by Roussel's writing in situ, this will ruin it. To me, it made it all the more fun. I don't often believe that an author's life sheds much light on her work, but in this case, his life was daring and and the truth is worthy of the telling. Like jumping from one rabbit hole to another.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews