Review (PDF) A Season In Hell & Illuminations (Modern Library Classics)
Translated, edited and with an Introduction by Wyatt Mason“The definitive translation for our time.”–Edward HirschFrom Dante’s Inferno to Sartre’s No Exit, writers have been fascinated by visions of damnation. Within that rich literature of suffering, Arthur Rimbaud’s A Season in Hell–written when the poet was nineteen–provides an astonishing example of the grapple with self. As a companion to Rimbaud’s journey, readers could have no better guide than Wyatt Mason. One of our most talented young translators and critics, Mason’s new version of A Season in Hell renders the music and mystery of Rimbaud’s tale of Hell on Earth with exceptional finesse and power. This bilingual edition includes maps, a helpful chronology of Rimbaud’s life, and the unfinished suite of prose poems, Illuminations. With A Season in Hell, they cement Rimbaud’s reputation as one of the foremost, and most influential, writers in French literature.
Series: Modern Library Classics
Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: Modern Library (August 9, 2005)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0679643273
ISBN-13: 978-0679643272
Product Dimensions: 5.1 x 0.6 x 8 inches
Shipping Weight: 7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #199,224 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #18 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Poetry > Regional & Cultural > European > French #232 in Books > Literature & Fiction > World Literature > European > French
Rimbaud skillfully draws the reader into the world of damnation, the world of the self. He confronts the essence of nihilism and self-loathing in this remarkable poem, composed at the astonishing age of 19. Like Dante, Milton, and perhaps Pound, Rimbaud is able to bend the language to engage the reader in a transcendental understanding of the human condition and psyche.There are poems in here of promethean beauty that prefigure the rebellious spirit of French artistic bohemians in the dawn of the 20th century:"Long ago, if my memory serves, life was a feast where every heart was open, where every wined flowed. One night, I sat Beauty on my knee.-And I found her bitter.-And Ihurt her.I took arms against justice.I fled, entrusting my treasure to you, o witches, o misery, o hate.I snuffled any hint of human hope from my consciousness. I made the muffled leap of a wild beast into any hint of joy, to strangle it. (3).This is an altogether excellent edition of Season and Hell and Illuminations, with a lucid and stark translation by Wyatt Mason. The Modern English library has also included the original French text, complete with a chronology of the poet's life and comprehensive facsimiles of the original texts for true bookworms who want to look at Rimbaud's corrections.
Only made better knowing that a teenager wrote it and it became a greatly influential work for the symbolists of 19th century French poetry. Its really pretty amazing. The translation is really good, or at least seems that way to me. I don't read French, so I don't have a feel for the real translation, but Wyatt Whats-His-Name really brings some flavor to it. You can tell at some times that the language isn't original, but it still feels like "Translator Wyatt" has captured something genuine about the manuscript. The history of "Illuminations" is very interesting as well. Worth looking into as it will enhance your enjoyment of the literature.Seasons in Hell is a great read too. Felt I was going a little insane while reading it (in a good way). Highly recommended.The wikipedia page for this cat is really remarkable. Not the beginning where they outline who his dad was and his early life and whatnot, but the section simply labeled "Poetry". It outlines his philosophy, which turned out to be a bit of self fulfilling prophecy for him, who, in case you haven't realized, is one of the great poets of all time. The bit of his life with Verlaine is pretty intriguing in a Jerry Springer sort of a way too, but there is some significance to that era that can't be overlooked in terms of who he was and who he became.Read it and love it. It's a hell of a rabbit hole.
This book is an old favorite that I've had in more than one edition over the years. It's a proto-Surrealism classic from the 1800s that kind of leads to Rock & Roll and Salvador Dali paintings. It's independent reading for hipsters for sure.
These titles were requested while at a book store. I chose this combined titles book. My spouse thought it being consolidated was fine.
A Season in Hell & Illuminations (Modern Library Classics) LIVING IN HELL (LIVING IN HELL Kindle) Hell's Super (Circles In Hell Book 1) A Cold Day In Hell (Circles In Hell Book 2) Hell Yeah!: Her Hell Yeah Cowboy (Kindle Worlds Novella) (Harland County Series Book 8) Hell Divers: Ghosts (The Hell Divers Trilogy Book 2) Truce: The Historic Neighbor From Hell (A Neighbor From Hell Series Book 4) Christmas from Hell: A Neighbor From Hell Novel A Season in Hell & The Drunken Boat (English and French Edition) A Season in Hell A Season in Hell and The Drunken Boat Illuminations Illuminations: Wisdom From This Planet's Greatest Minds Jewish Liturgy: A Guide to Research (Illuminations: Guides to Research in Religion) Bhagavad Gita: Annotated & Explained (SkyLight Illuminations) Spiritual Gems of Islam: Insights & Practices from the Qur'an, Hadith, Rumi & Muslim Teaching Stories to Enlighten the Heart & Mind (Skylight Illuminations) The Qur'an and Sayings of Prophet Muhammad: Selections Annotated & Explained (SkyLight Illuminations) Illuminations: Wisdom From This Planet's Greatest Minds (Volume 1) Modern Classics Journeys End (Modern Classics (Penguin)) Modern Classics Selected Poetry (Penguin Modern Classics)
