Hidden Faces [Paperback]

Salvador Dali (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 31, 1996

Dali's only novel. In richly visual language Dali describes the lives and loves of a group of aristocratic characters who, in their beauty, luxury, and extravagance, symbolize the decadent Europe of the 1930s. The story of the tangled lives of the protagonists, from the February riots of 1934 in Paris to the closing days of the war, is a brilliant vehicle for Dali's ideas, and an evocation of pre-war Europe. Valuable not only for Dali's own specially drawn illustrations, but also because it synthesizes all of the themes in Dali's art. So full of visual invention, so witty, so charged with an almost Dickensian energy that it's difficult not to accept its author's own arrogant valuation of himself as a genius."" - The Observer.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English, Spanish (translation) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Salvador Dali is, with Picasso, the most renowned artist of the 20th century.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 318 pages
• Publisher: Peter Owen Ltd (December 31, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 072060687X
• ISBN-13: 978-0720606874
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #462,914 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dali's novel of the pain and pleasure of obsessive love., April 22, 1999

By 

Clive Carswell([e-mail]) (London, U.K.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hidden Faces (Paperback)

This exploration of a doomed and destructive relationship owes much to both the Marquise de Sade and Baron von Masoch as Dali narrates the tale of his two main characters' descent into the darkest recesses of emotional dependancy and desire. Many of the elements that inspired Dali's art are here and so this book is a must for any fans of surrealism in general and Dali in particular.

2 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Who You Calling A Liar?, November 23, 2005

By 

Mark Champion "autumnfair" (San Antonio, TX United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hidden Faces (Audio CD)

It begins with a fanfare bigger than Spinal Tap's collective hair. And as is usual with Ronny Mooring's outfit (his "band", and probably his chosen attire as well) much of this comeback debut comes off as a bit contrived and melodramatic - - not to say overwrought; there is no "Agonized By Love" this time around. But it probably depends on how seriously you take it. All minor keys and synthblasts, when it's good ("Going Round '97"; "Out Of The Rain"; "Special Friends") it's exhilarating; when it's bad ("This World"; the egregiously phony "Wailing Wall") it's just plain bad. In between are atmospheric instrumentals like "November", which punctuates its lead from your favorite funeral dirge with fake oboe, and the self-descriptive "Piano Piece" which should more correctly be titled "My Favorite Synth Piano-Patch Piece". Some songs pound ("Sing A Song"; "It's All A Lie" - -hey, Ronny fesses up!!) while others ("Your Vice") sort of float along in synthetic serenity aiming, I suppose, at detached irony. One of the best tracks, though, isn't even on this CD: the instrumental "Flatlands", included as a bonus track on the "Out Of The Rain/Going Round '97" single. Okay then, not a total miss. But personally I miss Anka Wolbert. Oh, and Peter Wooten. Guess I take it a little too seriously, eh.

1 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a great return from a great band, January 29, 2006

By 

Amy Bellamy "Amy Bellamy" (San Fransisco,CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hidden Faces (Audio CD)

Amsterdam man Ronny Moorings reformed old band Clan Of Xymox in 1997 and released this, the first Moorings album to go out under the COX banner since 'Medusa' (1987). Here Moorings goes back to his roots, picking up where 'Medusa' left off yet updating the sound for a new era. Does this album make up for lost time? I think so, yes. 'HF' spawned two hit singles, the crushing 'Out Of The Rain' and the poignant 'This World'. This album was such a return to form for Moorings that it inspired old label 4AD to re-release their classic debut album, 'Clan Of Xymox'. This album should satiate anybody into Depeche Mode, The Sisters Of Mercy or even The Cure. Besides the two big songs, 'HF' features the class guitar-blast 'Sing A Song' as well as the Dead Can Dance-ish 'November' and seven other strong efforts like 'Wailing Wall' All in all `Hidden Faces' was a brilliant return to form for the Clan.