At the Sign of the Reine Pédauque

An absolutely peerless writer; I doubt that I could pick a page at random and not find something pithy or witty or amazingly insightful. The story follows the adventures of Jacques Tournebroche, a young man plucked from his father’s “restaurant” in the very early 17s by a travelling monk and scholar who teaches him Latin, Greek, and the classics. The two are hired by an alchemist to translate the works of ancient authors. Throw in some depressingly antisemitic rants relating to a Jewish character whose image panders to the worst stereotypes and you have what might even be called a rousing adventure story. Much of the book is devoted to satirizing the church and religion, though the book is actually based on a 17th-century occult show more text. There are innumerable references to ancient and medieval authors, many of whom are unknown. And yet, for all its challenges, I found it to be a real page-turner. show less

Maybe I shouldn't be as self-revealing as this in front of a million and a half strangers, but after nearly seventy years of reading, in several languages, this remais my favorite of all novels, and has been so since I first found a copy in a junk-shop almost half a century ago. At some point I should probably focus this diffuse ecstasy for the benefit of those unfamiliar with the book, but I have to go talk with some sylphs.

the strangest book ever? I never read this one out though. it was too weird! even for me..! nobel laureate? this is what I remembered, I´m not 100% sure its correct so I hope someone will make a better rewiew: a man that tries to make "sun-beings" , that is, beautiful naked voluptous "angelwomen" from the sky that actually is robots? in the 1800th-century?? like the whole book is ( in a serious way!) about that dream about fetisch mechanic angelwomen. the absinth got him there. i suppose it is about something else too but I never really got it, more than thier demand and highly evolved (errr...the secret ingredience of how to put a peice of metal to a sexylifebeing-asabeautifulrobotoid-withnowill was dynamite or what was it? ) and show more veeery important and philosophical scienceing for naked angelwomen. it´s packed with fantasy ( as in good imagination) though, it´s just kind of typical that he dreamed that these "sun-beings" was voluptuos robot-women, and not men or something. are gonna give it one more try some time i guess.

i´m sure it might be about something more intellectual that I´ve missed...? otherwise, if you like this sciencedreamfantasy, maybe you should just rent ´Barbarella´ or something. I´m sure they´ve taken THAT fantasy in a way more practical way, maybe in a way that anatole would like more than his book. herr herr. oh well. perhaps not! maybe I´ve missed something. I think it has to do with something philosophical too, actually. sorry if I´ve missed something Mr Anatole. :) will read it again. fascinating at least! show less

Probably the most surprising, poetical, charming novel I ever read

wild illustrations

lakeside press
244/1500