Alfred Jarry is best known as the author of the proto-Dada play Ubu Roi, but this anarchic novel of absurdist philosophy is widely regarded as the central work to his oeuvre. Written in 1989 and refused for publication in the author's lifetime, Exploits and Opinion of Dr. Faustroll recounts the adventures of the inventor of "Pataphysics . . . the science of imaginary solutions." Pataphysics has since inspired artists as diverse as Marcel Duchamp and the 60s rock band Soft Machine, as well as the mythic literary organization the Collège de Pataphysique. Simon Watson Taylor's superb annotated translation (which in turn inspired a new French edition of the text) was first published by Grove Press in 1965 as part of their now out-of-print collection, Selected Works of Alfred Jarry. As a result, this most important novel by Jarry has never before been published under its own title in English.
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16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Should Be as Well-known As Ubu,
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This review is from: Exploits and Opinions of Dr Faustroll Pataphysician (Paperback)
Faustroll is a Hallucinogenic cross between Lewis Carroll & Jules Verne. Magnificently dense style of a prose poem, images as strange as Lautremont's. It also reminded me of Flann O'Brien's Third Policeman, the only book that has done that.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I finally read it!,
By "mujyo" (Sunshine Valley, CA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Exploits and Opinions of Dr Faustroll Pataphysician (Paperback)
Pardon that Narcissus' who wrote my Review Title... This is a fantastic book! I bought it here from amazon.com a number of years ago, 97 or 98 and I finally read it this past week. I don't want to give anything away, because it is so utterly unique and enjoyable....However, I will say: Track down this book! Demand it! If you are a lover of the works or just plain amazing style of one of the 20th century's greatest literary artists... William Burroughs(!), then you will LOVE THIS BOOK! Heck, You'll ADORE it. This is a trip by boat, on land... an adventure far more exciting than the Odyssey, but perhaps among similiar lines... A journey from a middle point in life, to the extents of certain existences... and, to death... and beyond.. Finally, you will see why it started in the middle of life! The climax is amazing, and every scene comes across like the greatest film never made. Dali was definately influenced, as a number of scenes in here look like what Dali was to later paint! In the end though I found myself saying only, "Ha, ha." And I did not lose myself in further considerations. Except that, I would like to close by saying something I found very important, and dare I say, Life Changing:
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
How to Dream Your Way Through Life....,
By
This review is from: Exploits and Opinions of Dr Faustroll Pataphysician (Paperback)
...with your host Alfred Jarry. The text is astonishing and Roger Shattuck's (author of the incredible "The Banquet Years", which is partially about Jarry) introductory essay alone is worth the cover price.
In the words of the Butt-faced Baboon, "Ha Ha!"
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