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George Perec is the author of "Life A User's Manual". This aims to provide a comprehensive biography including a full survey of Perec's varied oeuvre, portraying an anguished, comical and ordinary man. The story begins in Eastern Europe before World War I and reaches its penultimate chapter in Australia, where Perec began drafting his last work, the thriller, "53 Days". The pearl trade, the occupation of France, the shoah, the rise and fall of the intellectual post-war France, art history, forgery, travels to Yugoslavia, Tunisia, Italy and Scotland, the Algerian War, neurophysiology, the book business and the radio, television and cinema industries provide the varied backdrops to a life rooted in historical change.
This biography investigates the life and creative output of Georges Perec, seeking to reconcile the man's ordinary existence with his complex, experimental literary contributions. David Bellos, a renowned translator and scholar, utilizes extensive archival research and personal correspondence to map Perec's trajectory from his early life in pre-war Eastern Europe to his final days in Australia. The work argues that Perec's oeuvre is inextricably linked to the trauma of the Shoah and the shifting intellectual landscape of post-war France, presenting him as a figure defined by both profound anguish and sharp, comical observation.
What You Will Find
This biography is widely regarded as the definitive account of Perec's life, praised for its meticulous research and deep understanding of the author's complex stylistic constraints. The text serves as an essential resource for scholars and readers interested in the intersection of twentieth-century history and experimental literature.
Page Count:
832
Publication Date:
1993-01-01
Publisher:
Harvill
ISBN-10:
0002720221
ISBN-13:
9780002720229
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