{"product_id":"alfred-jarry-alastair-brotchie-9780262528436","title":"Alfred Jarry: A Pataphysical Life","description":"\u003cb\u003eThis long-awaited biography of Alfred Jarry reconstructs a life both \"ubuesque\" and pataphysical. \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhen Alfred Jarry died in 1907 at the age of thirty-four, he was a legendary figure in Paris--but this had more to do with his bohemian lifestyle and scandalous behavior than his literary achievements. A century later, Jarry is firmly established as one of the leading figures of the artistic avant-garde. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEven so, most people today tend to think of Alfred Jarry only as the author of the play \u003ci\u003eUbu Roi, \u003c\/i\u003e and of his life as a string of outlandish \"ubuesque\" anecdotes, often recounted with wild inaccuracy. In this first full-length critical biography of Jarry in English, Alastair Brotchie reconstructs the life of a man intent on inventing (and destroying) himself, not to mention his world, and the \"philosophy\" that defined their relation. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBrotchie alternates chapters of biographical narrative with chapters that connect themes, obsessions, and undercurrents that relate to the life. The anecdotes remain, and are even augmented: Jarry's assumption of the \"ubuesque,\" his inversions of everyday behavior (such as eating backward, from cheese to soup), his exploits with gun and bicycle, and his herculean feats of drinking. But Brotchie distinguishes between Jarry's purposely playing the fool and deeper nonconformities that appear essential to his writing and his thought, both of which remain a vital subterranean influence to this day. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Alastair Brotchie\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 0262528436\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780262528436\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e MIT Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 08\/21\/2015\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 424\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 2.30lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.70h x 6.70w x 1.40d","brand":"Alastair Brotchie","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":43981524369663,"sku":"9780262528436","price":50.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_d4493d4a-4262-4571-a5c5-46e1a5d7de02.jpg?v=1683256088","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/alfred-jarry-alastair-brotchie-9780262528436","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}