A Night of Serious Drinking

Rene Daumal, David Coward, Edwin A. Lovatt

ISBN 10: 1585673994 / ISBN 13: 9781585673995

Published by Overlook Press, US, 2003

About this Item

A Night of Serious Drinking is among Rene Daumal's most important literary works. Like Daumal's Mount Analogue it is a classic work of symbolic fiction. An unnamed narrator spends an evening getting drunk with a group of friends; as the party becomes intoxicated and exuberant, the narrator embarks on a journey that ranges from seeming paradises to the depths of pure hell. The fantastic world depicted in A Night of Serious Drinking is actually the ordinary world turned upside down. The characters are called the Anthographers, Fabricators of useless objects, Scienters, Nibblists, Clarificators, and other absurd titles. Yet the inhabitants of these strange realms are only too familiar: scientists dissecting an animal in their laboratory, a wise man surrounded by his devotees, politicians, poets expounding their rhetoric. These characters perform hilarious antics and intellectual games, which they see as serious attempts to find meaning and freedom.

Seller Inventory # LU-9781585673995

Bibliographic Details

• Title: A Night of Serious Drinking
• Publisher: Overlook Press, US
• Publication Date: 2003
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1585673994
• ISBN 13: 9781585673995
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition: Reprint.
• Condition: New
• Weight: 159 grams

About this title

Synopsis

This masterful work of symbolic fiction takes readers on a surreal journey through the absurdities of intellectual society. Published in 1938, this allegorical novel remains one of Daumal’s most significant literary achievements.

A Night of Serious Drinking is not just a novel; it is a profound exploration of the human condition, filled with Daumal’s unique blend of wit, satire, and philosophical insight. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the Beat Generation, surrealist literature, or the timeless quest for understanding the complexities of life.

The story follows an unnamed narrator who, during an evening of heavy drinking with friends, embarks on a fantastical voyage that oscillates between paradisiacal visions and the depths of hell. As the night progresses and the party becomes increasingly intoxicated, the narrator encounters a series of bizarre and symbolic experiences that satirize various aspects of modern life, including science, politics, and philosophy.

Daumal’s narrative is rich with humor and intellectual games, featuring characters with absurd titles such as Anthographers, Fabricators of Useless Objects, and Clarificators. These characters, while seemingly outlandish, reflect the familiar figures of scientists, politicians, and poets, all engaged in their own quests for meaning.

About the Author

René Daumal (1908–44) was an editor of the French poetry and surrealist review Le Grand Jeu and received the Jacques Doucet Prize for his first volume of poetry, Le Contre-Ciel. Mount Analogue was first published, posthumously, in 1952.