New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. Near Fine. 1987. First Edition; First Printing. Soft Cover. 0156713608 . Introduction by Ned Rorem. Annotations by Pierre Chanel. Tight, clean and crisp. A faint hint of rubbing to wraps, otherwise Fine. No inscriptions. No remainder mark. Not ex-library. An excellent copy. ; 8vo; 376 pages .

Synopsis

Jean Cocteau delighted in shocking the world. In pubic, at least, the image he presented was one of great daring -- a man eager to defy, willing to experiment, ready to challenge. Cocteau's achievements in almost every artistic medium -- including poetry, film, illustration, criticism, and ballet -- rightfully earned him a reputation for radical versatility. He assumed Oscar Wilde's role as "world's most dazzling talker" and Thomas DeQuincey's as "world's most conspicuous opium addict"; he drew depictions of his bouts in the all-male brothels of Toulon; he created the actor Jean Marais and the chanteuse Edith Piaf. But among Cocteau's many accomplishments was one composition protected by the private man: his diary. Recorded during the last 13 years of his life, Cocteau's diary was kept a secret until 1983. this first of six projected volumes reveals Cocteau's life from 1951 to 1953. In it, he makes asides about Picasso, writes Oedipus rex, admires Stalin, travels through Europe, and engages in gross generalizations about Americans. With line drawings from Cocteau's original journal, Past Tense is a literary event -- a window into Cocteau's life and creativity as he wanted them to be remembered.

Reviews

(Log in or Create an Account first!)

Details

Bookseller: Eliabooks (US)
Bookseller's Inventory #: 09797
Title: Past Tense: The Cocteau Diaries Volume 1
Author: Cocteau, Jean
Format/Binding: Soft Cover
Book Condition: Used - Near Fine
Edition: First Edition; First Printing
Binding: Paperback
ISBN 10: 0156713608
ISBN 13: 9780156713603
Publisher: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich
Place of Publication: New York
Date Published: 1987
Keywords: 0156713608, Art, BIOGRAPHIES, BIOGRAPHY

Terms of Sale

Eliabooks

All books may be returned for a full refund within 21 days of purchase. They must be returned in the condition as sent.

About the Seller

Eliabooks

This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.

Biblio member since 2006

Los Angeles, California

Ask Seller a Question

About Eliabooks

Eliabooks specializes in art and photography books, including exhibition catalogs.

Glossary
Frequently asked questions

Glossary

Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:

Tight: Used to mean that the binding of a book has not been overly loosened by frequent use.
Remainder Mark: Usually an ink marking of some sort which indicates that the book was designated a remainder. In most cases, it can be found on...
Crisp: A term often used to indicate a book's new-like condition. Indicates that the hinges are not loosened. A book described as crisp...
Rubbing: Abrasion or wear to the surface. Usually used in reference to a book's boards or dust-jacket.
Fine: A book in fine condition exhibits no flaws. A fine condition book closely approaches As New condition, but may lack the...