Comment j’ai écrit certains de mes livres (How I Wrote Certain of My Books)

Roussel, Raymond. Comment j’ai écrit certains de mes livres (How I Wrote Certain of My Books). Paris: Jean-Jacques Pauvert, 1963. Reprint. Octavo. 323, [1]pp. Original printed wrappers. Title page in red and black lettering. Poet, novelist, playwright, and chess enthusiast, Raymond Roussel (1877-1933) was one of the French belle époque’s most compelling literary figures. “Comment j’ai écrit certains de mes livres” (How I Wrote Certain of My Books) is the first anthology of writings by Roussel, a legendary eccentric who influenced artists as diverse as Duchamp and Gide; contains selections from most of his major works. Raymond Roussel’s remarkable ability to spin thickly structured narratives from a hidden network of obscure puns, buried double entendres, felicitous homonyms, and devilish mondegreens, the “special method” of linguistic gamesmanship is revealed in this short volume published after the author’s death. Spine slightly discolored, with minor rubbing along edges. Text in French. Wrappers in overall good+, interior in very good condition. g+ to vg. Softcover. (38206) $45