Saturday, February 19, 2011

The first novel of surrealism


Thanks to Alliance française d'Auckland I've been reminded of André Breton and his novel 'Nadja' which made the first novel of surrealism and as such has been known in history of literature. It's Breton's birthday today and Alliance française has announced 'Nadja' the book of the month - neat! I haven't been reading much poetry and fiction in recent years, but surrealism has always been my favourite - although not the radical ones. I loved the Paul Eluard's poems a lot, and Breton as well.
By the way, I have always been amazed how French people can easily pronounce the name 'Nadja' in the right way, with a clear 'dj' , not as 'dz'. That's worth noticing and praising. It may be that the accent on the last syllable (as it is in most of the French words) just makes it easier to pronounce the 'dj' sounds properly, as different from all those who, as soon as they see the 'dj' spelling tend to pronounce it as 'dz' even not asking how it should be pronounced. Well, that's probably enough on spelling and (mis)pronunciation of names - let's go back to André Breton and his Nadja!
I do love Alliance française d'Auckland ! Here is their text in English and French:

The Book of the Month
Nadja, d’André Breton
Published in 1928, Nadja is one of the most famous books by André Breton. Written a few years after Manifesto of Surrealism, the theorist text which explains the intellectual basis of surrealism, Nadja is a very surprising autobiographical text which tells the story of a meeting. André Breton meets a mysterious young woman who chose to wear the name of Nadja, “because in Russian, it’s the beginning of the word hope, and because it’s only the beginning”. The relationship between Nadja and Breton becomes a real example and an incarnation of the surrealist theories. With Nadja, Breton reaches a poetic world over reality.
The book is composed of three parts. First is the context: Breton describes the literary games that his friends of the surrealist group play, and explains what a revolutionary art to him is. Breton then begins the diary of his relationship with Nadja. The book ends on passionate lines dedicated to a woman Breton calls ‘The Wonderful One”, Suzanne Muzard, the mistress of Breton’s editor Emmanuel Berl. Breton met her after Nadja and felt love at first sight for her, which she reciprocated. The book can then appear as the itinerary of a man for whom art can’t make sense if it’s not motivated by love.
If you read the book, don’t feel lost because the contents seem strange: it is not insanities, it is surrealism.
Nadja, d’André Breton
Publié en 1928, Nadja est l’un des ouvrages les plus connus d’André Breton. Ecrit quelques années après Manifeste du Surréalisme, le texte théorique qui posait les fondements du mouvement surréaliste, Nadja est un texte autobiographique surprenant qui raconte la rencontre entre André Breton et une jeune femme mystérieuse qui s’est choisi le prénom Nadja « parce qu’en russe, c’est le commencement du mot espoir, et parce que ce n’en est que le commencement ». La relation de Nadja et Breton se révèle être une sorte d’exemple réel et de mise en pratique des principes surréalistes. Grâce à la jeune femme, Breton accède à un monde poétique au-delà de la réalité.
Le livre est composé de trois parties. Il commence par une mise en contexte : Breton décrit les jeux littéraires auxquels se livrent ses amis du groupe surréaliste, et en quoi consiste pour lui une révolution de l’art. Breton raconte ensuite, sous la forme d’un journal, sa rencontre et sa relation avec Nadja. Le livre se conclut sur une dédicace à celle que Breton appelle « La Merveille », Suzanne Muzard, la maîtresse de son éditeur Emmanuel Berl, que Breton avait rencontré peu de temps après Nadja et pour laquelle il avait éprouvé un coup de foudre réciproque. A travers ce livre, le lecteur suit donc le parcours d’un homme pour lequel l’art ne peut avoir de sens s’il n’est motivé par l’amour.
Si vous lisez ce livre, ne vous laissez pas déstabiliser par ses propos qui peuvent sembler décousus : ce ne sont pas des insanités, c’est du surréalisme.

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