Cocteau

by Francis Steegmuller

Examines the life, work, thought, and preoccupations, of the multi-talented artist against the age in which he flourished.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, France, Literature, Literary Fiction

591 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1970

About the author

Francis Steegmuller was an American biographer, translator and fiction writer, who was known chiefly as a Gustave Flaubert scholar.

Reviews

[Shane Bordoli · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must-read for fans, every aspect and anecdote is looked at from different angles and points of view giving what must be one of the definitive takes on one of the greats. It's a huge book by the way and I loved it, but if I'm picky there are a couple of downsides. Firstly the author skips over much of Cocteau's more average later life and works because he doesn't deem them worthy of coverage. Secondly, Cocteau's sexuality seems to an issue for the author. While he correctly deems much of Cocteau's work that of a genius, he only ever refers to him as a pederast, never once merely gay or homosexual. Whilst he liked younger men, it seems like the author is trying to portray Coctaeu's sexuality as something 'wrong' and certainly not something to be celebrated, or even dare I say accepted. All in all, It's a quality tome even if it seems like the author skips over the last parts to meet some publishing deadline or word count limit and is a tad homophobic. Cocteau's work cannot be allowed to be forgotten and this book is a fitting tribute for the most part.

[Danielle ⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ · Rating 5 out of 5]

thank you to angels in america for having a 5 second shot of prior reading this book & because i’m a sheep i decided to do the same.

[Jeff Loxterkamp · Rating 5 out of 5]

The ubiquitous Cocteau was at the forefront of French culture until his death in 1963. Most enjoyable was his collaboration in 1917 in Sergie Diagolev's Ballets Russes, where he wrote the scenareo for 'Parade', with sets by Picasso, music by Satie and libretto by Apollinair. "If it had not been for Apollinaire in uniform," wrote Cocteau, "with his skull shaved, the scar on his temple and the bandage around his head, women would have gouged our eyes out with hairpins." Besides his influence on other artists, writers and filmamkers, he is also best known for his relationship with Andre Breton. Of all the feuds Breton enjoyed having, he never let up in his near homicidal hatred of Cocteau.

[Anton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like Warhol, the crazy buzz of artists and stars surrounding the subject matter is often more interesting than posing dandy Cocteau himself: Stravinsky, Genet, Picasso, Radiguet, ... and Sartre, naturally.

The book is as detailed as a biography can be, but I can recommend it only if you are really, really, REALLY into Cocteau - which I realized after the last page, that I wasn't.

The story about his relationship/friendship with Radiguet, cut off by Radigue's death, is perhaps THE most tragic ending of a love-story that I have read, ever..

[Godine Publisher & Black Sparrow Press · Rating 5 out of 5]

"... vastly entertaining and informative, written stylishly and wittily with a pen often dipped in vitriol... a major biographical achievement." -Saturday Review

"Mr. Steegmuller straightens out the record with precision and clarity in book that is surely a model of the biographer's art." -The New York Times Book Review

[Keith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting story of Cocteau. Hard to get past the homophobic sneers at Cocteau's love life.

[Maryann Zulueta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still great after all these years upon a rereading(comment by dianne, not Maryann).