author
Raymond Roussel
1877–1933
A wealthy, fiercely original French writer, he built novels and poems out of wordplay, strange inventions, and dreamlike logic. Though little appreciated at first, his work later became a touchstone for Surrealists, Oulipo writers, and other literary experimenters.
1 Audiobook
Locus Solus
by Raymond Roussel
About the author
Born in Paris on January 20, 1877, Raymond Roussel was a French poet, novelist, playwright, musician, and chess enthusiast. He is best known for works such as Impressions of Africa and Locus Solus, books whose dazzling descriptions and unusual structures made him one of the great literary oddities of the early 20th century.
Roussel came from a wealthy family, which gave him the freedom to pursue ambitious artistic projects on his own terms. His writing often followed elaborate verbal procedures and delighted in improbable scenes, technical marvels, and exacting detail. That singular style puzzled many readers in his lifetime, but it later fascinated major writers and artists.
He died in Palermo on July 14, 1933. Over time, his reputation grew enormously, and he is now widely seen as an important influence on groups such as the Surrealists, Oulipo, and the writers of the nouveau roman.