Book Description
This digital document, covering the life and work of Boris Vian, is an entry from Contemporary Authors, a reference volume published by Thompson Gale. The length of the entry is 4046 words. The page length listed above is based on a typical 300-word page. Although the exact content of each entry from this volume can vary, typical entries include the following information:

• Place and date of birth and death (if deceased)
• Family members
• Education
• Professional associations and honors
• Employment
• Writings, including books and periodicals
• A description of the author's work
• References to further readings about the author

Customer Reviews (1)

hardboiled Vian
The firstbook from Vian I read was "L'ecumedes jours", so I was a bit stunned when I first picked up this book. The style is totally different, far from the surrealism and the pun of the other book. Instead: action , violenceandsexin "hardboiled" style, still seasoned withVian's sarcasm. In fact, Vian wrote it using the pseudonym of VernonSullivan, pretending to be just the translatorof this book "censored inthe US and first published in France". His publisherwas lookingfor an"american"novel, and Vian offered himself to write it, in 14 days; aproof of his ability, an hommage to his beloved America thathe nevervisited , and a violent attack to racism by a jazzfan and performer. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

What else to expect from genious?
A story that confronts us with most of human vices, and the vicious way we deal with other people and with our own fears. Amazing, as I think all Boris Vian's books are, with that little sparkle of fantasy that take us to a parallel world.

This story will not leave you untouched.
The characters lack human traits like compassion and love, and try to fill this gap in their personality, each in their own curel and detached way. The language by which Boris Vian describes this search is affectionate and intense. His parabels and stile of writing are at the same time stumbleingly awkward and grotesquely funny. No book has ever touched and disgusted me more than this one.

This book has been printed in the English translation (by John Sturrock) as "Heartsnatcher", by Quartet Books.

An unreal surreal, real intelligent portrait of human nature
Boris Vian presents us one of his very best books, which relates a surrealportrait of feelings such as care, love, disappointment and nostalgia. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (19)

Une histoire triste
This brilliant work of fiction, akin to a fairy-tale, combines science-fiction, surrealism, absurdism, lyricism...
One of the highlights of post-war French litterature, it has becomesomewhat of a cult favourite for teenagers, as it relates the lives of yound adults who refuse to accept the responsabilities of adulthood, preferring to live according to principles eerily similar to those held by hippies, refusing to temper idealism with the demands of reality.

A fresh and poignant tale
It is a pity that Boris Vian has no name recognition in the anglo-saxon world. Much to blame is probably the uniqueness of his language and unconventional writing approach. This refreshing tale encompasses youth, love and the fleeting aspect of all that is precious in life.

Exquis, magnifique, superbe verbe et texture
Ce livre est un chef-d'oeuvre que l'on déguste du début à la fin et que l'on apprécie de plus en plus à chaque relecture. J'adore Boris Vian et l'aurait marié sans même y penser après avoir lu ce qui coule de sa plume. Les mondes qu'il crée sont fascinants, et celui-ci est le plus beau de tous.

Exquis, magnifique, superbe verbe et texture
Ce livre est un chef-d'oeuvre que l'on déguste du début à la fin et que l'on apprécie de plus en plus à chaque relecture. J'adore Boris Vian et l'aurait marié sans même y penser après avoir lu ce qui coule de sa plume. Les mondes qu'il crée sont fascinants, et celui-ci est le plus beau de tous.

searing, unmissable love story
L'Ecume des Jours (or, John Sturrock's translation, Foam of the days) tells us a story of Colin and Chloé and their love.
Of love that - however pure, serene and (perhaps) unbelievable it may appear to our everyday eye - is very much innocent. Like the one that, at least some of us, have always wished to experience.
The whole story has, unfortunatelly, a tragical end. But then, it wouldn't be one of the nicest books I have ever read. Only to express myself better through similarity, it is Jamiroquai's "Falling" that makes me think of Collin's falling in love with Chloé - except that Collin's love is 'returned' - they both love each other dearly and very much.
The whole story is divided in two parts - two worlds where love stays the same (even grows!) only the encompassing world undergo (terrible) changes. It's the careless world of Colin's and Chloe's love before they get married, full of warmness that only two suns may produce, and of the world after their wedding. The moment they say final yes at their wedding, Chloe gets ill and the whole preceding atmosphere suddenly changes from "happy" to "gloomy." As I said, the love stays, even gets greater, but the whole story then leads to an inevitable tragical end...
In Vian's own words it's a history that is "...entirely true as I made it up from the beginning to the very end." ["...entierement vraie, puisque je l'ai imaginée d'un bout a l'autre"] I would not quite say it is wholly made up although it's only my opinion. Yes, the story is a bit unreal, perhaps exaggerated, but I think it needs to be in order to let us feel and (hopefully) realize, that as 'panta rei' (as Time flows by) we should pauper our friendships and, when being loved and loving ourselves, then we should love sincerely and happily. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Un drama de una historia de amor, lírica y surrealista...
Esta novela es un drama sobre una historia de amor, pero al estar salpicada de tanto lirismo y surrealismo llega a confundir llevándote por los caminos del humor a poco que uno se descuida.

A mí me ha llamado especialmente la atención la potencia narrativa justamente de estos elementos fantásticos, con cuatro palabras, en una sola frase uno se ve trasladado a esos escenarios imposibles. Para los tiempos que corren, tanta novela histórica, tanto realismo periodístico es una bocanada de aire fresco

Carlos Ortega
2006-01-27

Pequeña corrección
Normalmente no comento acerca de lo que piensan otros lectores: cada quien su rollo. Pero siendo este libro el más cercano a mi humilde corazón, me atrevo a decir que el autor de la reseña anterior simplemente no tiene imaginación. ¿Qué tiene que ver si Chloe muere de un nenúfar en los pulmones? ¿Cambiaría en algo o sería mejor el libro si muriese de un cáncer? ¿No es un nenúfar, además de todo, un extraordinario pretexto para construir una gran metáfora llena de humor negro?

Este libro no solamente es una exaltación a la vida, al amor y a la tragedia de la muerte, es un deleite literario en sí mismo. Es uno de esos pocos libros en los que la historia, la manera en que está narrada y los recursos literarios que la adornan están a la par. Una verdadera obra maestra. Y NO, JAMÁS será aceptable equiparar su calificación con la un mugroso betseller.

Un buen libro, aunque no grandioso
Este es un libro que muestra el absurdo de la existencia, la muerte de la inocencia y del idealismo: el darse cuenta y la angustia inherente de la realidad sin adornos idealizados. Esto suena interesante, pero en sí la novela es un tanto cansona para leer, las descripciones rayan en el surrealismo y las situaciones son absurdas. Por ejemplo, la esposa del protagonista muere porque en sus pulmones crece un nenufar. Aun así, si te gusta la tragicomedia, el humor negro, las situaciones absurdas y maravillosas, el simbolismo y el existencialismo, esta novela es para tí. Ah, y si sabes quien es Jean Paul Sartre, vas a disfrutar su caricatura- referencia omnipresente en la obra-, Jean Sol Partre. ... Read more