Buy this book on-line Gombrowicz, Witold (Translated by Danuta Borchardt) & Lipsyte, Sam (Contributor) : PornografiaGrove Press, New York City, NY, 2009 ISBN 0802119255
First Edition / First Printing. As New in As New Dust Jacket. 225 pages. New and Definitive Translation of the author's third novel. One of the greatest novels of the 20th century. The first appearance of the title in the new English-language translation. Precedes and should not be confused with all other subsequent editions. Published in a small and limited first print run as a hardcover original only. Grove Press also published the very first translation of the novel (in 1966). The First Edition Thus is now scarce. Presents Witold Gombrowicz's "Pornografia" in its definitive English translation. With an Introduction by the brilliant novelist Sam Lipsyte. Despite its provocative title (or rather, because of it), it's a novel of ideas, a philosophical fable which posits the subversive notion that the (healthy) life of the body is the only antidote to the (corrupted) life of the mind. Tragically, the inevitable form "Enlightenment" rationality has led to in our time is its exact opposite, barbarism. Writing in the great Polish tradition of nihilism, Gombrowicz asks: How can any modern artist have full faith in reason when he has witnessed the unthinkable brutality of so-called civilized, rational individuals, most notably those inhabiting the world's most civilized and rational nation (Germany) ? Eerily prescient, Gombrowicz and his great novel anticipate George Steiner's portrait of the Nazi who commits genocide during the day and plays Schubert at night, the protagonist-thug who worships Beethoven in Anthony Burgess' "A Clockwork Orange", and the ineffably cultivated monster-villains in Ian Fleming's James Bond novels, who are all asexual whereas Bond is the ultimate stud/sex machine. "I do not believe in a non-erotic philosophy. I do not trust any de-sexualized idea" (Witold Gombrowicz). Amen. An absolute "must-have" title for Witold Gombrowicz collectors. This title is a modern classic. This is one of few copies of The Grove Press "New Translation" Edition/First Printing still available online and is in especially fine condition: Clean, crisp, and bright, a pristine beauty. Please note: Copies available online have serious flaws, are subsequent printings, or are remainder-marked. This is surely an accessible and lovely alternative. A scarce copy thus. One of the greatest writers of the 20th century. A fine copy. (SEE ALSO OTHER WITOLD GOMBROWICZ TITLES IN OUR CATALOG). ISBN 0802119255. Click here for full details of this book, to ask a question or to buy it on-line. Bibliophile Bookbase probably offers multiple copies of Gombrowicz, Witold (Translated by Danuta Borchardt) & Lipsyte, Sam (Contributor) : Pornografia. Click here to select from a complete list of available copies of this book. Bibliophile Bookbase lists over 5 million books, maps and prints including collectables, livres anciens, incunabula, rare books and livres rares. Bibliophile Bookbase for antiquarian books, maps and prints. |