Alcools (Athlone French Poets) [Paperback]

Guillaume Apollinaire (Author), Garnet Rees (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0485127083 | ISBN-13: 978-0485127089 | Publication Date: July 20, 2001

Guiilaume Apollinaire, a leading figure amongst the young writers and artists in France until his death in 1918, published 'Alcools', his first book of poems, in 1913. With its wide range of verse forms and contrasting registers of style, 'Alcools' had a considerable influence on Surrealist poetry. The poems provide a splendid example of the lyrical art in which the paradoxes of Apollinaire are held in high poetic tension. The editor's introduction and notes take place in the 20th Century and explain allusion and difficulties in the text.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: French --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Professor Rees held a Chair of Modern French Literature at the University of Hull.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: The Athlone Press (July 20, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0485127083
• ISBN-13: 978-0485127089
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,375,943 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Alcools by Guillaume Apollinaire of, March 29, 2009

By 

Stephen Rice "real reader" (Pasadena, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Alcools (Paperback)

Excellent collection of some of Apollinaire's best poetry from early in the 20th century=in French

1.0 out of 5 stars when the book spells his name "guillame" ..., November 12, 2011

By 

Brian Hughes "slaveringdog" (Andover, MA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Alcools (Paperback)

took one look at the pos that arrived and went to amazon.fr to buy a gallimard version which, including shipping, cost ~ $29. minus shipping it was only ~6 euros (a bit over 8 bucks, compared to the $17 for this botched effort of publishing on demand). and that gallimard version includes the brief set of poems Le Bestiaire as well, with reproduced woodcuts by dufay. this book that i am ranting about -- i mean reviewing -- is horrific looking. the book is 7 7/8 x 10 inches, with poems only starting on odd numbered pages (which for some bizarre reason are on the left (verso) -- i tellya this book throws all publishing convention to the wind), so a short poem like "Automne" occupies the upper left corner of a broad two-page expanse of whiteness. There is a generic blurb on the back which says nothing specific to this book (it is sufficiently generic to apply to any "anthology" -- which alcools is not, anyway). The spine has nothing on it (no title or author). And of course the in only two spots where apollinaire's name appears, his prénom, as the frenchies say, is spelled "guillame". wth? i may have to hang on to this copy so i can take it out every few weeks and laugh at it.

if i were reviewing this for content i would have to give it several stars. guillaume apollinaire is a cool poet -- obscure of meaning, vivid and concrete and unadorned in his language and imagery. this book is -- except for the strange formulaic blurb -- completely in french and the poems are untranslated.