The Journal of Jules Renard

by Jules Renard, Sarah Manguso (Introduction)

Overview

"Directly, or indirectly, Renard is at the origin of contemporary literature."—Jean-Paul Sartre Spanning from 1887 to a month before his death in 1910, The Journal of Jules Renard is a unique autobiographical masterpiece that, though celebrated abroad, is largely undiscovered in the United States.
Spanning from 1887 to a month before his death in 1910, The Journal of Jules Renard is a unique autobiographical masterpiece that, though celebrated abroad and cited as a principle influence by writers as varying as Somerset Maugham and Donald Barthelme, remains largely undiscovered in the United States. Throughout his journal, Renard develops not only his artistic convictions but also his humanity as he reflects on the nineteenth-century French literary and art scene, and on the emergence of his position as an important novelist and playwright in that world. Renard provides aphorisms and quips, and portrays the details of his personal life—his love interests, his position as a socialist mayor of Chitry, the suicide of his father—that often appear in his work.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781941040812
Publisher:	Tin House Books
Publication date:	11/14/2017
Pages:	264
Sales rank:	218,485
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.40(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Jules Renard (1864-1910) was a French author and member of the Académie Goncourt, most famous for the works Poil de Carotte (Carrot hair) (1894) and Histoires naturelles (Natural Histories) (1896). Among his other works are Le Plaisir de rompre (The Pleasure of Breaking) (1898) and Huit jours à la campagne (Eight Days in the Countryside) (1906).

Table of Contents

Introduction Sarah Manguso 11

Preface Louise Bogan 15

Before 1887 Elizabeth Roget 19

1887 25

1888 30

1889 33

1890 46

1891 53

1892 61

1893 70

1894 79

1895 90

1896 103

1897 118

1898 138

1899 149

1900 159

1901 173

1902 185

1903 195

1904 212

1905 232

1906 250

1907 274

1908 289

1909 306

1910 322

Index of Proper Names 327

Editorial Reviews

The irresistibly quotableJournal of Jules Renard, a record of Renard'''s development as a writer in fin de siecle France, demonstrates his gift for quips, aphorisms, and striking observations.”

Bookforum

Jules Renard'''s endlessly amusing journals are available again, and whether read straight through or dipped into at random, they''''re a marvel to behold...readers of this work are certainly encouraged to laugh throughout at his singularly savage wit.”

Los Angeles Times Book Review

Directly, or indirectly, Renard is at the origin of contemporary literature.”

Jean-Paul Sartre

You are holding a secret book, which influenced many great writers. I received it first from Donald Barthelme who received it from Susan Sontag. Once you have found it, you will find again and again that many of the writers you love have read it. Renard'''s way with the detail is unforgettable. I have never forgotten the starfish placed like a badge on a little boy'''s swimsuit at the beach, his baby arms and legs wiggling like the starfishes. Renard writes about spiders, about the moon, and the poetry he makes from the things his eyes tell him is joyful, particular-the world in a detail.”

Michael Silverblatt

Poetic, amusing, instructive, melancholic—Renard'''s writing should find its way to the shelves of writers and lovers of fine writing. How ideal to have sentences like this at hand: ''''In the path, the caterpillar plays a soundless little tune on its accordion.''''”

Marilyn Dahl - Shelf Awareness