French Literature Reviews - 2026
A. Gryspeerdt, Roger Caillois. Des mythes aux collections
Philosophy, Anthropology and Ideas
Axel Gryspeerdt, Roger Caillois. Des mythes aux collections
Paris : Classiques Garnier, coll. “Études de littérature des XXe et XXIe siècles”, 2013
EAN 9782812409790.
268 p.
Price: 32 EUR.
Available in hardcover for 79 €.
Publisher's Description:
A close associate of André Breton, Roger Caillois was interested in instincts, dreams, masks, play, and myths. A poet, essayist, sociologist, and academician, he was also a collector fascinated by extraordinary naturalia, including certain minerals. Was his work influenced by this collection?
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An article about this book can be read on the nonfiction.fr website:
Published by Classiques Garnier in the collection devoted to twentieth and twenty-first century literary studies, this volume examines the multifaceted intellectual profile of Roger Caillois. Associated with Surrealism through his early connection to André Breton, Caillois developed a remarkably diverse body of work spanning sociology, literary criticism, and the study of human imagination. His writings frequently investigated fundamental cultural phenomena, including the roles of myth, sacred rituals, games, and the uncanny in human civilization, establishing him as a singular figure in mid-century French thought.
This scholarly study investigates the profound relationship between Caillois's theoretical interests and his lifelong passion for collecting, particularly his fascination with naturalia and unusual minerals. By bridging the gap between his published essays and his curatorial practices, the book offers valuable perspectives for researchers in French literature, intellectual history, and cultural studies. It provides essential reading for anyone seeking to understand how the tangible organization of physical objects can mirror and shape abstract philosophical inquiry.