Cocteau's World: An Anthology of Writings

by Jean Cocteau

English, French (translation)

Genres: Poetry

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1972

About the author

Jean Maurice Eugène Clément Cocteau (5 July 1889 – 11 October 1963) was a French poet, novelist, dramatist, designer, boxing manager, playwright and filmmaker. Along with other Surrealists of his generation (Jean Anouilh and René Char for example) Cocteau grappled with the "algebra" of verbal codes old and new, mise en scène language and technologies of modernism to create a paradox: a classical avant-garde. His circle of associates, friends and lovers included Jean Marais, Henri Bernstein, Colette, Édith Piaf, whom he cast in one of his one act plays entitled Le Bel Indifferent in 1940, and Raymond Radiguet.

His work was played out in the theatrical world of the Grands Theatres, the Boulevards and beyond during the Parisian epoque he both lived through and helped define and create. His versatile, unconventional approach and enormous output brought him international acclaim.

Reviews

[ThePageGobbler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Previous stuff I’ve read has portrayed this guy as a kind of entertaining sideshow but he can really write - more so than (an admittedly young) Apollonaire imo! Very much a poet’s poet with a unique stock of imagery but the more prosaic Le Livre Blanc is revolutionary in its own way too. The travel writing is a bit boring and to be fair to the haters the French Oscar Wilde stuff wears somewhat thin. But fair play Jean Cocteau!

[Mia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like a richly varied gourmet dinner, some of this anthology was intense and intriguing and romantic, and some of it was a bit much or used flavors that might have been intriguing but have become a bit stale over the years. His contemplations of certain poets and composers could be quite fascinating.

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Acquired 1999
The Word, Montreal, Quebec