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The Penguin Book of Oulipo

The Penguin Book of Oulipo

Queneau, Perec, Calvino and the Adventure of Form

Summary

A TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT BOOK OF THE YEAR 2020

'Lovers of word games and literary puzzles will relish this indispensable anthology' The Guardian


'At times, you simply have to stand back in amazement' Daily Telegraph

'An exhilarating feat, it takes its place as the definitive anthology in English for decades to come' Marina Warner

Brought together for the first time, here are 100 pieces of 'Oulipo' writing, celebrating the literary group who revelled in maths problems, puzzles, trickery, wordplay and conundrums.

Featuring writers including Georges Perec, Raymond Queneau and Italo Calvino, it includes poems, short stories, word games and even recipes. Alongside these famous Oulipians, are 'anticipatory' wordsmiths who crafted language with unusual constraints and literary tricks, from Jonathan Swift to Lewis Carroll.

Philip Terry's playful selection will appeal to lovers of word games, puzzles and literary delights.

Reviews

  • A superb selection ... Lovers of word games and literary puzzles will relish this indispensable anthology celebrating Perec, Calvino and many others ... Terry's anthology connects us to a wider world of Oulipian wordplay, and beyond.
    Tony White, The Guardian

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