(1932)
Author: Louis-Ferdinand Celine
SOLD
Celine, all of his faults aside, was confident in his work, "Where French literature's concerned, there I'm going to be the wise man, make no mistake...I've slipped the spoken word into print. In one sole shot."
The result was staggeringly modern, this is "people's speak" something Joyce used in "The Portrait of the Artist As A Young Man". In World War I Europe with people and artists being displaced or at the face of conflict, their eyes on society were more open. It seems like as readers we want to relate to insight and vision. We look for nostalgia sure but we want to know how the dirt tastes.
At times Celine can be barbaric and cruel, he wrote like he spoke, with little confidence in man. But that to me is the essence of a war torn France. The characters build dialogues with parts of the modern society; war theatre, industry, mental health.
I am mixed to be honest about "Journey to the End of the Night" it is crushing and intriguing, a beautiful study. It puts you at the face of a the eternal question "Is society good?" I look up to Celine for his insight and writing style while at the same time feel like he would be upset if I didn't.
He knew how good he was at what he was doing, and felt that he was the last correct answer. If the night seems to be our only relief, than perhaps we all are the last correct answers to ourselves.
With this copy of the novel I am sending out a handmade BookHook, a small chap book based on themes from the novel, and an impressionist painting.
