Historical Dictionary of SurrealismDespite surrealism's celebration of the subconscious and eschewal of reason, the movement was nevertheless concerned with definitions. Andre Breton included a dictionary-style entry for surrealisme in his 1924 Manifeste du surrealisme and later explored juxtapositions of the absurd and the mundane in the 1938 Dictionnaire abrege du surrealisme. To the mountain of literature that seeks to organize the far-reaching intellectual movement, Aspley (honorary fellow, Univ. of Edinburgh) adds this handy volume that organizes the breadth of surrealism into concise entries on artists, writers, artworks, and themes. A chronology highlights events that sparked the surrealist imagination, activities of formal surrealist groups, and exhibitions. An introductory essay and extensive bibliography are included. One of the few English-language reference sources about surrealism published in the last decade, Aspley's dictionary is useful for quick access to key terms and biographies. For a book devoted to a movement characterized by arresting visual imagery, the lack of illustrations is annoying. Even Rene Passeron's 1978 Phaidon Encyclopedia of Surrealism (CH, May'79) reprints artworks in color. For a richly illustrated and comprehensive history, see Gerard Durozi's History of the Surrealist Movement (CH, Nov'02, 40-1316). Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-level undergraduates through graduate students. Lower-division Undergraduates; Upper-division Undergraduates; Graduate Students. Reviewed by A. H. Simmons. |
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André Breton Anthologie Apollinaire Artaud artist and writer artist born automatic avant-garde Bataille became Belgian Benjamin Péret brought Brussels Buñuel career collaborated collages Communist contributed Dada died dreams edition essay Exhibition in Paris famous film France French poet friends Gallery Gallimard Georges Giacometti Henri illustrated images included inspired International Surrealist Exhibition Jacques Jean Joan Miró joined the Surrealist journal L'Amour La Révolution surréaliste later launched Littérature London Louis Aragon Manifeste du surréalisme Marcel Duchamp married Masson Max Ernst Mesens Mexico moved to Paris Museum noir novel Oeuvres Pablo Picasso painter born painting Paul Éluard Peinture Philippe Soupault photographer Picabia Pierre played Poèmes Poésie poet born poetry portrait Prévert Pseudonym published René Magritte returned rêve Révolution surréaliste Sade Salvador Dalí sculpture studied subsequently Surrealism Surrealist group Surrealist movement texts theater tion Tzara World World War II writer born wrote York Yves Tanguy