Portrait of a Man Known as Il Condottiere

Marc Notes: Originally published in French as Le condottiere, (c) 2012 by Editions du Seuil--Title page verso."Biographical Note: Georges Perec (1936-1982) was a French writer and a member of OuLiPo. David Bellos is professor of French and Italian and comparative literature at Princeton University, where he also serves as the director of the Program in Translation and Intercultural Communication. Publisher Marketing: Puckish and playful, Georges Perec infused avant-garde and experimental fiction with a wit and wonder that belied the serious concerns and concepts that underpinned it. A prominent member of the OuLiPo, and an abiding influence on fiction writers today, Perec used formal constraints to dazzling effect in such works as "A Void"--a murder mystery that contains nary an "e"--and "Life A User's Manual," in which an apartment building, systematically canvassed, unfolds secrets and, ultimately offers a reflection on creation, destruction, and the devotion to art. Before embarking on these experiments, however, Perec tried his hand at a relatively straightforward novel, "Portrait of a Man." His first book, it was rejected by publishers when he submitted it in 1960, after which he filed it away. Decades after Perec's death, David Bellos discovered the manuscript, and through his translation we have a chance to enjoy it in English for the first time. What fans will find here is a thriller that combines themes that would remain prominent in Perec's later work, such as art forgery, authenticity, and murder, as well as craftsman Gaspard Winckler, who whose namesakes play major roles in "Life A User's Manual" and "W or The Memory of Childhood." Engaging and entertaining on its own merits, and gaining additional interest when set in the context of Perec's career, "Portrait of a Man" is sure to charm the many fans of this postmodern master. Review Citations:

Kirkus Reviews 02/15/2015 (EAN 9780226054254, Hardcover)

Publishers Weekly 03/30/2015 (EAN 9780226054254, Hardcover)

Shelf Awareness 04/17/2015 (EAN 9780226054254, Hardcover)

Contributor Bio:  Perec, Georges Georges Perec (1936-1982) was a French writer and a member of Oulipo. Contributor Bio:  Bellos, David David Bellos is the director of the Program in Translation and Intercultural Communication at Princeton University, where he is also a professor of French and comparative literature. He has won many awards for his translations of Georges Perec, Ismail Kadare, and others, including the Man Booker International Translator's Award. He also received the Prix Goncourt for "George Perec: A Life in Words". He is the author of the book "Is That a Fish in Your Ear? Translation and the Meaning of Everything".