The Subversive Poetics of Alfred Jarry
Ubusing Culture in the Almanachs du Père Ubu

Marieke Dubbelboer

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Research Monographs in French Studies 35

Legenda

30 January 2012  •  152pp

ISBN: 978-1-907747-98-4 (hardback)  •  RRP £80, $110, €95

ModernFrenchDramaSatire

Paradox and provocation were essential features of all of the work of Alfred Jarry (1873-1907). His non-conformist attitude, whether employed to subvert literary or artistic conventions or to scrutinize social and political issues, marked both his literary writing and his view of the world. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the experimental and satirical Almanachs du Père Ubu (1898 and 1901), which to date have received little critical attention. Jarry’s groundbreaking use of collage in these early works, his absurdist humour and his rethinking of literary authorship and artistic originality foreshadow many innovations of twentieth-century art and literature. In this generously illustrated study Marieke Dubbelboer examines key characteristics of Jarry’s poetics through an analysis of the Almanachs and addresses their role within the European avant-garde.

Reviews:

  • ‘The innovative political focus that she provides on Jarry’s œuvre is especially welcome... It is a pleasure to find the Jarry–Bonnard collaboration given thorough analysis... This book expands Jarry’s relevance beyond the literary arena.’ — Jill Fell, Modern Language Review 108.3, 2013, 977-78 (full text online)
  • ‘En raison de la précision et de la justesse des analyses qu’il propose, le livre de Dubbelboer doit donc dès à présent être considéré comme un ouvrage de référence pour quiconque s’intéresse de près à la cosmogonie ubuesque.’ — Karl Pollin, Nineteenth-Century French Studies 42.3-4, Summer 2014, 293-94
  • ‘This cogent, insightful study analyzes the sophisticated collage-based social satire in the critically underrepresented Almanachs du Père Ubu (1898, 1901). Through close readings and archival research, Dubbelboer immerses us in Jarry’s inspired fusion of art and life.’ — Aaron Prevots, French Review 88.2, October 2014, 223

Bibliography entry:

Dubbelboer, Marieke, The Subversive Poetics of Alfred Jarry: Ubusing Culture in the Almanachs du Père Ubu, Research Monographs in French Studies, 35 (Cambridge: Legenda, 2012)

First footnote reference: 35 Marieke Dubbelboer, The Subversive Poetics of Alfred Jarry: Ubusing Culture in the Almanachs du Père Ubu, Research Monographs in French Studies, 35 (Cambridge: Legenda, 2012), p. 21.

Subsequent footnote reference: 37 Dubbelboer, p. 47.

(To see how these citations were worked out, follow this link.)

Bibliography entry:

Dubbelboer, Marieke. 2012. The Subversive Poetics of Alfred Jarry: Ubusing Culture in the Almanachs du Père Ubu, Research Monographs in French Studies, 35 (Cambridge: Legenda)

Example citation: ‘A quotation occurring on page 21 of this work’ (Dubbelboer 2012: 21).

Example footnote reference: 35 Dubbelboer 2012: 21.

(To see how these citations were worked out, follow this link.)

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