In the Absence of Men

Besson, Philippe

ISBN 10: 0786711612 / ISBN 13: 9780786711611

Published by Carroll & Graf Pub (edition First Edition), 2003

About this Item

It's a well-cared-for item that has seen limited use. The item may show minor signs of wear. All the text is legible, with all pages included. It may have slight markings and/or highlighting.

Seller Inventory # 0786711612-8-1

Bibliographic Details

• Title: In the Absence of Men
• Publisher: Carroll & Graf Pub (edition First Edition)
• Publication Date: 2003
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0786711612
• ISBN 13: 9780786711611
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: First Edition.
• Condition: Very Good

About this title

Synopsis

A powerful debut novel chronicles the wartime coming-of-age of young Vincent, a lover of Proust whose story is told by the great French writer himself.

Reviews

During one week in 1916, 16-year-old Vincent de l'Etoile befriends the greatest writer in France and experiences the first great love of his life. Fortunately, he keeps a journal and writes letters, is an exquisitely limpid stylist (kudos to Wynne's translation), and considers himself too young to have morals. His new friend is Marcel Proust, then 45 and known to be attracted to very young men. Vincent's first lover is Arthur Vales, a soldier on leave to see his mother, a servant in the de l'Etoile household. Vincent meets Proust in the well-trafficked cafes in the afternoon and welcomes Arthur to his bed every night. After the week, Proust goes to take care of family business in Illiers, and Arthur returns to Verdun, where he is soon killed in action. This extremely romantic scenario concludes with a plunge into bathos, but the writing is so beautiful, and the characters are so convincing, that Besson's first novel seems to be the homosexual cousin of Hemingway's Farewell to Arms. Ray Olson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved