Best of
French-Literature

2007

Brodeck


Philippe Claudel - 2007
    Readers of J. M. Coetzee's Disgrace, Bernhard Schlink's The Reader and Kafka will be captivated by Brodeck.Forced into a brutal concentration camp during a great war, Brodeck returns to his village at the war’s end and takes up his old job of writing reports for a governmental bureau. One day a stranger comes to live in the village. His odd manner and habits arouse suspicions: His speech is formal, he takes long, solitary walks, and although he is unfailingly friendly and polite, he reveals nothing about himself. When the stranger produces drawings of the village and its inhabitants that are both unflattering and insightful, the villagers murder him. The authorities who witnessed the killing tell Brodeck to write a report that is essentially a whitewash of the incident. As Brodeck writes the official account, he sets down his version of the truth in a separate, parallel narrative. In measured, evocative prose, he weaves into the story of the stranger his own painful history and the dark secrets the villagers have fiercely kept hidden.

Essential Poems and Writings of Robert Desnos


Robert Desnos - 2007
    He wrote, and collaboratively wrote, many influential and celebrated books. Besides poetry, Desnos also wrote on a wide range of subjects from film texts and criticism to novels. During WWII he became a poet of the resistance, but was arrested by the Gestapo and sent to several notorious concentration camps for the duration of the war. He died as a result of his internment. This is the most comprehensive anthology of the writings of Robert Desnos ever assembled and translated into the English language. The extensive poetry section is bilingual. The English translations are by the most renowned translators of Robert Desnos.

Marcel Proust's Search for Lost Time: A Reader's Guide to the Remembrance of Things Past


Patrick Alexander - 2007
    There is no other guide like this; a user-friendly and enticing entry into the marvelously enjoyable world of Proust.At seven volumes, three thousand pages, and more than four hundred characters, as well as a towering reputation as a literary classic, Proust's novel can seem daunting. But though begun a century ago, in 1909, it is in fact as engaging and relevant to our times as ever. Patrick Alexander is passionate about Proust's genius and appeal--he calls the work "outrageously bawdy and extremely funny"--and in his guide he makes it more accessible to the general reader through detailed plot summaries, historical and cultural background, a guide to the fifty most important characters, maps, family trees, illustrations, and a brief biography of Proust. Essential for readers and book groups currently reading Proust and who want help keeping track of the huge cast and intricate plot, this Reader's Guide is also a wonderful introduction for students and new readers and a memory-refresher for long-time fans.

Haunted House


Pierre Reverdy - 2007
    Described by André Breton as among the ten books he would most like to take to a desert island, Haunted House combines the oblique, dreamlike world of Reverdy's poetry with a more ironic, whimsical tone of mock grandeur. John Ashbery's translations, published here for the first time in the UK, extends his life-long engagement with French literature, one that has vitally informed his own work in poetry, literature, and the arts.

Tokio Hotel Fever


Béatrice Nouveau - 2007
    Featuring stunning photos of the band-in performance, off stage, and as children-this biography details their early days, their musical and style influences, and their love for their devoted legions of fans. Tokio Hotel translated their two albums from German to English and found North Americans just as receptive to their alt-rock music, moving lyrics, and distinct visual style. This led to a nomination for the MTV Video Music Award for best pop video and a win for best new artist in 2008. From facts and style information on each of the band members to a discography and videography of their work, this guide to all things Tokio Hotel is essential for any die-hard fan and a great introduction for those new to their music.

Alter Ego Level 1 Exercise Book English Version (French Edition)


Annie Berthet - 2007
    

Freedom in the Air: A Czech Flyer and His Aircrew Dog


Hamish Ross - 2007
    He returns to his homeland after World War II but escapes back to the UK again when the communists gained control. Again he joins the RAF and rose to the rank of Warrant OfficerThe unique part of this is that from his time in France, throughout World War II and until half way through his second tour with the RAF he was inseparable from his Alsatian dog, an animal that became famous and was awarded a dog equivalent to the VC. The animal flew with his owner on many bomber raids, became the squadron mascot and was officially a serving RAF dog. It played an amazing part in the second escape from the Czech communists regime when the author was lucky to make it over the border to the US zone in Germany.

Smoking Kills


Antoine Laurain - 2007
    At first the treatment works, but his stress levels begin to rise when he is passed over for an important promotion and he finds himself lighting up again – but with none of his previous enjoyment.Until he discovers something terrible: he accidentally causes a man’s death, and needing a cigarette to calm his nerves, he enjoys it more than any other previous smoke. What if he now needs to kill every time he wants to properly appreciate his next Benson and Hedges?