Book Description
overpowering in that part of Africa, near the equator, and the thundery
atmosphere, untempered by the slightest breeze, weighed oppressively on
every one of us." - Chapter 1.
A compelling introduction to Roussel's Africa - a land which existed wholly
within his imagination. In equatorial Africa the Emperor Talu VII is about
to be crowned. Roussel draws us into another world; dreamlike, colourful
and exciting. An extravagant adventure in style and fantasy. A pure,
sublime work born out of the imagination.
Although never a member of the official surrealist movement, Roussel is
undoubtably one of the most important surrealist writers. Moreover, such
modern innovators as Alain Robbe-Grillet and Eugene Ionesco have
acknowledged their debt to him as one of the principle fathers of the
'nouveau roman' and the 'theatre of the absurd'.
'Impressions of Africa' was the first of Roussel's two major prose works.
It makes easy and enjoyable reading, being an adventure story put together
in a highly individual fashion with an unusual time sequence. It makes use
of fortuitous wit and 'jeux de mots'.
The surrealist techniques of automatic writing and private allusion, while
not spoiling the enjoyment of the casual reader, add an extra dimension to
the book for the student of literature.
