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Scratches

The Rules of the Game, Volume 1
By Michel Leiris
Series: The Margellos World Republic of Letters
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
In Scratches, Michel Leiris offers an introspective exploration into his own life, delving into memories and reflections that traverse childhood to adulthood. The memoir presents a tapestry of personal experiences, illuminating the complexities of identity and the continuous journey of self-discovery. Leiris's narrative intertwines introspective musings with an artist's touch, crafting a vivid portrayal of the intersections between his personal life and broader existential themes.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you are intrigued by introspective memoirs that delve into the personal reflections and experiences of the author. It offers a unique blend of introspection and cultural commentary, inviting readers into the complex and nuanced world of the writer's thoughts and experiences. If you appreciate deeply personal narratives and intellectual exploration, this book could be a rewarding read.

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A dazzling translation by Lydia Davis of the first volume of Michel Leiris's masterwork, perhaps the most important French autobiographical enterprise of the twentieth century

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A dazzling translation by Lydia Davis of the first volume of Michel Leiris’s masterwork, perhaps the most important French autobiographical enterprise of the twentieth century.

Michel Leiris, a French intellectual whose literary works inspired high praise from the likes of Simone de Beauvoir and Claude Lévi-Strauss, began the first volume of his autobiographical project at the age of 40. It was the beginning of an endeavour that ultimately required 35 years and three additional volumes.

In Volume 1, Scratches, Leiris proposes to discover a savoir vivre, a mode of living that would have a place for both his poetics and his personal morality. “I can scarcely see the literary use of speech as anything but a means of sharpening one’s consciousness in order to be more—and in a better way—alive," he declares. He begins the project of uncovering memories, returning to moments and images of childhood—his father’s recording machine, the letters of the alphabet coming to life—and then of his later life—Paris under the Occupation, a journey to Africa, and a troubling fear of death.

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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Scratches by Michel Leiris is praised as a deeply significant and captivating work of autobiography. Esteemed figures like John Sturrock and Francis Bacon highlight its profound impact, both as an enriching document and a touching personal testament.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780300212372

Publisher: Yale University Press

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 02 May 2017

Country: United States

Imprint: Yale University Press

Contributors:

  • Translated by Lydia Davis

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 17.0mm

Width: 152.0mm

Height: 229.0mm

Weight: 363g

Pages: 272

Collections

Biography & Memoir European History History & Archaeology History & Military Michel Leiris Musicians, Movie Stars & Creative Biographies Non-Fiction Political Biographies Series: The Margellos World Republic of Letters

About the Author

Michel Leiris (1901–1990) was a profoundly influential and versatile French intellectual. His four-volume autobiographical essay, The Rules of the Game, serves as a primary document of artistic life in the twentieth century. Lydia Davis has received numerous awards as a translator of works from the French and as an author. She lives in upstate NY.

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