Items related to In The Absence of Men
Synopsis
A magical first novel by a talented young French author recreates Proust’s upper-middle-class Paris during WWI.
Few established novelists would dare to write a novel in which Proust appears as a character. Fewer still would have the nerve to invent love letters written by Proust to a 16-year-old boy. For a first novelist to set himself this challenge and succeed is remarkable.
Paris 1916. Vincent is 16 and approaching manhood very much “in the absence of men” with every able-bodied young man away at the front. In his relationship with the soldier-son of one of his parent’s servants, he explores his sexuality. His platonic relationship with the middle-aged Jewish writer Marcel Proust stimulates an intelligence and sophistication remarkable in an adolescent. With both he enters a world of love, both erotic and platonic. The book is as remarkable an act of homage to a great writer as Jean Rhys’ Wide Sargasso Seas was to Charlotte Bronte.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Author
Philippe Besson lives in France. This is his first novel.
From the Back Cover
“A superb novel, brilliant, inventive and audacious... exquisite and cruel, deliciously written.” – Le Monde
“From time to time... first novels appear which announce, without hesitation, without dispute, the arrival of a real writer... Such is the experience of reading Philippe Besson’s In the Absence of Men.” – Magazine Litteraire
From the Inside Flap
A magical first novel by a talented young French author recreates Proust?s upper-middle-class Paris during WWI.
Few established novelists would dare to write a novel in which Proust appears as a character. Fewer still would have the nerve to invent love letters written by Proust to a 16-year-old boy. For a first novelist to set himself this challenge and succeed is remarkable.
Paris 1916. Vincent is 16 and approaching manhood very much ?in the absence of men? with every able-bodied young man away at the front. In his relationship with the soldier-son of one of his parent?s servants, he explores his sexuality. His platonic relationship with the middle-aged Jewish writer Marcel Proust stimulates an intelligence and sophistication remarkable in an adolescent. With both he enters a world of love, both erotic and platonic. The book is as remarkable an act of homage to a great writer as Jean Rhys? Wide Sargasso Seas was to Charlotte Bronte.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
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In the Absence of Men
Seller: Better World Books Ltd, Dunfermline, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: Good. Former library copy. Pages intact with minimal writing/highlighting. The binding may be loose and creased. Dust jackets/supplements are not included. Includes library markings. Stock photo provided. Product includes identifying sticker. Better World Books: Buy Books. Do Good. Seller Inventory # 41200138-75
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In The Absence Of Men
Seller: WorldofBooks, Goring-By-Sea, WS, United Kingdom
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Hardback. Condition: Good. The book has been read but remains in clean condition. All pages are intact and the cover is intact. Some minor wear to the spine. Seller Inventory # GOR004084288
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In The Absence Of Men
Seller: World of Books (was SecondSale), Montgomery, IL, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardback. Condition: Good. Paris 1916- Vincent is 16, 'as old as the century'. With almost every able-bodied young man away at the front, Vincent is approaching manhood very much 'in the absence of men'.In his relationship with the soldier son of one of his parent's servants, who subsequently dies on the batlefront, he explores his sexuality; his platonic relationship with the middle-aged Jewish writer, Marcel Proust, stimulates an intelligence and sophistication remarkable in an adolescent; and with both he enters a world of love, and the final loss of what remains of his childhood innocence. Set in the very recognizable world of Proust's Paris, 'In the Absence of Men' is a remarkable act of homage to a great writer. Seller Inventory # 00104523450
Stock Image
In The Absence Of Men
Seller: World of Books Inc, Montgomery, IL, U.S.A.
Seller rating 4 out of 5 stars
Hardback. Condition: Good. Paris 1916- Vincent is 16, 'as old as the century'. With almost every able-bodied young man away at the front, Vincent is approaching manhood very much 'in the absence of men'.In his relationship with the soldier son of one of his parent's servants, who subsequently dies on the batlefront, he explores his sexuality; his platonic relationship with the middle-aged Jewish writer, Marcel Proust, stimulates an intelligence and sophistication remarkable in an adolescent; and with both he enters a world of love, and the final loss of what remains of his childhood innocence. Set in the very recognizable world of Proust's Paris, 'In the Absence of Men' is a remarkable act of homage to a great writer. Seller Inventory # CIN0434009695G