Michel Leiris Writing the Self

This is the first full-length study in English of the work of Michel Leiris, a central figure in contemporary French culture. It explores Leiris's participation in some of the most striking intellectual and artistic movements of the twentieth-century: surrealism, ethnography and existentialism. Comparing his writing to the major artistic, political and philosophical concepts of the period, Hand asserts that Leiris's multi-volume autobiography remains as the model form of twentieth century self-inquiry.

This is the first full-length study in English of Michel Leiris's work. Frequently cited as a central figure in contemporary French culture, Leiris was an outstanding writer whose double career as ethnographer and creative writer places him at important points of intersection within French cultural history. Seán Hand explores Leiris's active participation in some of the most striking intellectual and artistic movements of the twentieth century: surrealism in the twenties, ethnography in the thirties and existentialism in the forties. Hand locates his writing in these different contexts in relation to the major artistic, political and philosophical concepts of the period. He goes on to argue that Leiris's multi-volume autobiography La Règle du jeu stands as the model form of self-enquiry in the twentieth century. More broadly, Hand explores Leiris's continuing obsession with the notion of 'presence'. Informed by recent critical theories, Hand offers a multi disciplinary approach to this intriguing writer.

Acknowledgements; Introduction: the deaths of Michel Leiris; Part I. Texts and Contexts: 1. Unities and identities: Leiris and surrealism; 2. Recasting the self: from surrealism to ethnography; 3. Autobiographical frameworks: from ethnography to L'Age d'homme; 4. Positional play: La Règle du jeu; 5. Secreting the self: Journal 1922–1989; Part II. The Quest for Presence in La Règle du jeu: 6. Excess of joy: the beginnings of presence in '… Reusement!'; 7. Organs of learning: sensing presence in Biffures; 8. The act of union: being-in-the-world in La Règle du jeu; 9. Thanatography: non-being as the limit of autobiography; Conclusion: locating Leiris; Notes; Bibliography; Index.

This is the first full-length study in English of the work of Michel Leiris who is frequently cited as a central figure in contemporary French culture. Seán Hand explores Leiris's participation in some of the most striking intellectual and artistic movements of the twentieth century: surrealism, ethnography and existentialism amongst others.

Seán Hand is Professor of French and Head of the School of Languages at Oxford Brookes University. He has published on Derrida, psychoanalysis, and contemporary French writing.