The Death of a Nobody (1911) [I]n particular, it is with the literary movement
known as unanimism
(Romains coined the word
The Death of a Nobody is the first installment in what grew into a 27 volume cycle of novels, essays, poems, and plays called Les Hommes de bonne volonté (Men of Good Will), in which Jules Romains developed his theory of unanimism. It concerns the death of Jacques Godard, a retired railroad engineer, who lived by himself in a flat in Paris. His death is depicted as an event which effects a few acquaintances, his fellow tenants, his aged father, and a young stranger. Romains suggests that Godard continues to exist for a time, to the extent that these people recall him, but with the death of his parents, is finally forgotten. Romains uses a nearly cinematic technique, depicting various characters;' reactions to death in narrative sequence, but as if they are occurring contemporaneously. The novel is interesting both for this stylistic innovation (keep in mind that when the book was written, cinema didn't even really exist) and for the philosophy expounded, but I'd imagine after a couple of entries in the series it would get pretty tedious. This one is mercifully brief and worth reading. (Reviewed:) Grade: (B) Tweet Websites:-ENCYCLOPÆDIA BRITANNICA : Romains, Jules -Romains, Jules (Louis-Henri-Jean Farigoule) (1885 - 1972) (xrefer) -ENCYCLOPÆDIA BRITANNICA : Unanimism GENERAL :
Comments:You're wrong to say Death of a Nobody is the first novel in a cycle - Hommes de Bon Volonte is a later work. This self-contained novel is Romains' first. However this review admirably points out some of Romains' technical innovations (such as simultaneity). It's also a novel which has had more influence than it's given credit for - particularly on the work of Virginia Woolf. - crasher - Jan-16-2005, 18:29 ******************************************************* |
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