Exquisite Corpse

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You've probably heard that this love story about two cannibalistic serial killers (loosely modeled after Dennis Nilsen and Jeffrey Dahmer) is over the top. You've been warned about the lovingly meticulous descriptions of murder and necrophilia. But the novel also features a keen look at the AIDS plague, in a setting almost worth dying for: Brite's doomed aesthetes dance in a sweet, heady New Orleans of milky coffee and beignets, alligators, Billy Holiday tunes, scented candles, pirate radio, swamp French, andouille sausage and one bar for every 175 people. And the structure is the tightest of Brite's books so far.

Book Description

To serial slayer Andrew Compton, murder is an art, the most intimate art. After feigning his own death to escape from prison, Compton makes his way to the United States with the sole ambition of bringing his "art" to new heights. Tortured by his own perverse desires, and drawn to possess and destroy young boys, Compton inadvertently joins forces with Jay Byrne, a dissolute playboy who has pushed his "art" to limits even Compton hadn't previously imagined. Together, Compton and Byrne set their sights on an exquisite young Vietnamese-American runaway, Tran, whom they deem to be the perfect victim.

Swiftly moving from the grimy streets of London's Piccadilly Circus to the decadence of the New Orleans French Quarter, and punctuated by rants from radio talk show host Lush Rimbaud, a.k.a. Luke Ransom, Tran's ex-lover, who is dying of AIDS and who intends to wreak ultimate havoc before leaving this world, Exquisite Corpse unfolds into a labyrinth of murder and love. Ultimately all four characters converge on a singular bloody night after which their lives will be irrevocably changed -- or terminated.

Poppy Z. Brite dissects the landscape of torture and invites us into the mind of a killer. Exquisite Corpse confirms Brite as a writer who defies categorization. It is a novel for those who dare trespass where the sacred and profane become one.

Customer Reviews:

Exquisite prose.......2007-09-04

Pity young Tran Vinh. After finding the love of his life, he quickly loses him to madness and jealousy. Then, his father discovers that he is gay, and throws him out of the house. Confused and homeless, Tran can hardly believe that things could get worse. They can, and do, as he crosses paths with Andrew Compton and Jay Byrne, demented lovers who specialize in killing, dismembering, and cannibalizing young gay men. They have Tran in their crosshairs, believing he may represent the zenith of their murderous careers.

Exquisite Corpse is an extraordinary, complex book. Brite carefully develops three storylines which eventually converge on Tran. In the book's opening pages, we are treated to the first person narrative of necrophile Andrew Compton, who describes his murderous activities in gruesome detail. We follow him to America, where he meets Jay Byrne, who dominates the second storyline. Jay has been killing young boys for years, luring them to his apartment under the pretext of photographing them. Jay has fantasized about killing Tran, but hesitates because Tran is a local boy. After meeting Andrew, Jay starts to lose his inhibitions and starts thinking about making his fantasies come true. The last storyline focuses on Luke Ransom, Tran's ex-lover. Luke, the star attraction of WHIV (a pirate radio station), broadcasts diatribes against the straight world under the nom de plume "Lush Rimbaud". Consumed by the loss of his lover, Luke vows he will be with him again.

Comparisons between Exquisite Corpse and Bret Easton Ellis' American Psycho are inevitable, but inappropriate. Where Ellis' book descended into self parody, Brite's comes across as an unsettling, true to life examination of human depravity. Although Exquisite Corpse is not for everyone--the violence (ultraviolence?) is incredibly graphic, and the homosexual elements will undoubtedly turn some readers off--you might want to read it just to vicariously experience the energy and talent Brite brings to the table. She's in control of this grisly narrative every step of the way, providing readers with a disturbing glimpse into the minds of two serial killers. With admirable economy, she exposes an ugly aspect of the human condition, while providing some pretty radical social commentary.

An unworthy subject.......2007-08-31

Brite writes beautifully. That said, the subject of this book is so ugly and depraved and its characters so loathsome, that I honestly can't see any reason for anyone to read this.

I honestly have no issue with authors sexualizing violence to a degree, as this is part of the human experience for some people. But this book is just a bridge too far. If you are interested in grotesque violence as pornography, then this is your book. But my opinion is that the world can be an ugly and depraved enough place without literature that lovingly festishizes these elements. It's one thing to describe and try to understand the horrors of the human experience, but it's a whole other thing to hold them up and pay homage to them.

Long live Jay and Andrew!.......2007-08-13

I'm only going to say what you really need to know.

This book is deranged sick. But it's the magical kind of sick, the kind that shows up in your dreams and makes your face twist into a disgusted scowl while your reading it. And if you're at all familiar with the Jeffrey Dahmer backstory then you're in for a real treat. Poppy creates serial killers I'd like to have a drink with in real life....but only a drink.

Stephen King Can't Beat This.......2007-05-11

This was an amazing read. I haven't read a Poppy Z. Brite book in ages and, frankly, I hadn't even known that this one existed. This is strikingly different from anything she has done. I discovered it quite accidentally and, judging by the brief summary on the back, I was instantly intrigued. I loved every sentence of every page. Even when describing something as horrible as disemboweling a human being, she manages to write with such love and care. This is a very twisted story, one where love seems to be high on the morbid scale. And, in a way, you could even make the arguement that it is a love story; love, if you can call it that, between two killers and their victims as well as love between the main victim, Tran, and his ex, Louis. The length of the book, although I wouldn't have been opposed to it being longer, is perfect for those who like quick reads. Wonderful novel. I haven't found another yet to meet its caliber.

As a friendly warning though, to people who abhore alternative forms of sex and/or alternative lifestyles, this is NOT the book for you.

Disappointing and Disgusting.......2007-05-04

The story starts off great with a fast paced escape of one of the main characters. At times there were some well-written dramatic scenes, but too often the book descends into describing gay sex in graphic detail to a degree that approaches gay porn. For many (if not most) straight people, you will likely find yourself sickened, for the sex acts described were as disturbing to me as the murders. I think she went a little too far in this regard, although it will certainly make her more popular in the gay community.

That having been said, the girl can sure write. I just hope she picks better subjects in the future.

Exquisite Corpse: Surrealism and the Black Dahlia Murder

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Strange, Yet Convincing
SURREALIST SIGNATURES
Amazing, actually
Rotten
Life imitating art imitating death.

Exquisite Corpse: Surrealism and the Black Dahlia Murder
Mark Nelson , and Sarah Hudson Bayliss
Manufacturer: Bulfinch
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Surrealism | Schools, Periods & Styles | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Murder & Mayhem | True Accounts | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

True Crime | True Accounts | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Severed: The True Story of the Black Dahlia Murder
Childhood Shadows: The Hidden Story of the Black Dahlia Murder
Black Dahlia Avenger Rev Ed: A Genius for Murder
The Black Dahlia Files: The Mob, the Mogul, and the Murder That Transfixed Los Angeles
Daddy Was the Black Dahlia Killer: The Identity of America's Most Notorious Serial Murderer--Revealed at Last

ASIN: 0821258192

Book Description

Bridging the worlds of high art and true crime, Exquisite Corpse presents a unique perspective on the most notorious unsolved murder case of the twentieth century--the bizarre 1947 killing of Elizabeth Short, better known as the Black Dahlia murder.Unlike previous books on the Black Dahlia, Exquisite Corpse provides a detailed and compelling explanation for the unusual nature of this gruesome killing. Exquisite Corpse reveals, through visual comparisons and historical research, what seem to be profound connections between surrealist art and the Black Dahlia case--both before and after the murder. The evidence includes startling crime-scene and autopsy photographs of Elizabeth Short, rarely seen photographs by Man Ray, and surprising comparisons with a wide range of surrealist artworks. A +web of connections+ indicates a direct link or one degree of separation between the alleged killer and a host of influential people in the arts and film industry in Los Angeles in the 1930s and 40s. A timeline provides a revealing chronology of events surrounding the murder.Exquisite Corpse is a must-read for anyone interested in true crime, art history, Hollywood noir, and the infamous Black Dahlia case.

Customer Reviews:

Strange, Yet Convincing.......2007-01-15

This unusual book argues that the killer of Elizabeth Short aka the Black Dahlia was a Surrealist who worked on the Hollywood scene. It does provide a surprisingly convincing case that the killer was a member of a particular artistic school that had a particularly strong influence on the movies of the time.

The book is very well illustrated with ghastly photos from the crime scene and is recommended to all true crime buffs.

SURREALIST SIGNATURES.......2006-11-12

KUDOS TO MARK AND SARAH. As relates to the Nelson/Bayliss EXQUISITE CORPSE: SURREALISM AND THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, I would like to add my heartfelt appreciation and high praise for their outstanding research, dedication and documentation. I believe their independent and academic investigation, adds mountains of evidence to my original lay/foundational thesis that suggested surrealism and its art were the key to the DAHLIA crime signatures. Mark Nelson and Sarah Hudson Bayliss have connected the dots and the people and presented them for all of us to see. They have taken the long silent voices of those who knew (or suspected) and by holding up their works (riddles wrapped in mysteries)--HAVE MADE THEM SPEAK!

Steve Hodel
Los Angeles

Amazing, actually.......2006-11-11

I was aware of the Black Dahlia murder as one of those notorious, super-mediafied events that was big enough to sorta stay in the public conciousness through the years. It's incredible to me that, after all this time, there is still stuff to discover about the murder. And one might be inclined to say why bother dwelling on it? And, for me, the answer is that this book is about something much more interesting than just the murder: it's about the connection between the murder, the murderer, surrealist art, and some of the major artists of the 20th century. The author's arguments are convincing and the connections they surface are -- to me -- amazing. It says a lot about art and the culture of artists. As an artist myself, I find this particularly interesting.

I read some of the other reviews of this book. I think it'd be best if people who review a book have actually READ the book. Nobody would read this book and give it only 1 star. Even if you don't like the subject, you can't deny that the authors have approached the subject soberly, argue their points well, and that the research/images/writing are good. This is no shrill, sensational supermarket pulp product. It's a good read and an *interesting* read on many levels.

I learned some new things about art, artists, culture and the experience was wrapped in a remarkable bit of art-historian sleuthing about one of the most grisly, notorious murders ever. The fact that one of the most horrific murders in US history was actually part of a dialogue with a major movement in 20th century art is, well, amazing...

I recommend the book. Read it and you'll know what i mean.

Rotten.......2006-10-16

I can't see anyone finding much value in this book except the kind of people who enjoy looking at pictures of mutilated dead bodies. Even that group ought to save their money, as the photos here have probably already been scanned and posted all over the internet by now, thanks to the more industrious members of that particular club. What little else there is of this book hardly bears mentioning. It amounts to little more than a poorly organized magazine article attempting to connect an almost random selection of art works to the crime. Sort of throw back to the old-time practice of dressing up prurient material as "educational," I suppose.

Life imitating art imitating death........2006-10-03

The book attempts tie together surrealistic art and the death of Elizabeth Short. It does an ok job of that. The book seems to be more about the art work created by people like Man Ray then it is about the murder of Elizabeth Short. It offers loose comparisons of death portrayed in art. The book gives examples of many Surrealistic artists of the day and a short biography of their work for those who aren't familiar with their work. It also attempts to familiarize people with the idea of surrealistic art. The book is less about the details of the murder and more about the theory of surrealism in the thought process of the murderer and the possible artistic motivational factors behind it.

The mystery's behind the death of Elizabeth Short have been who killed her and why was she posed in that position, was it to imitate art perhaps so otherwise why cut the body the way it was and position it in that manor. The book does go into some detail about the art Scene in Los Angeles at the time of the murder and it's influence on the art scene afterwards. It asks questions like why was the body cut in half, perhaps to imitate existing pieces of art work including Man Rays Minotaur.

The book is nicely put together there are a lot of photos that I had not seen before and a lot of comparison artwork to support the books theory. It's a quick read but interesting read if you buy into the theory that Elizabeth Short died so that a macabre art work could be created.

If you like Crime scene photography or photos of the Elizabeth Short murder then this is a 4 star book. It you are looking for the facts behind the murder then this is about a 2 start book. If you are looking for surrealistic art then it's also about a 4 star book.

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"Beauty must be convulsive or not at all" - Breton
Extreme Reactions
Exquisite
Exquisitely surreal and filled with art!

Exquisite Corpse
Robert Irwin
Manufacturer: Overlook TP
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Arabian Nightmare
The Limits of Vision
The Adventures of Ingenious Alfanhui
Satan Wants Me
The Other Side (Dedalus European Classics)

ASIN: 1585673862
Release Date: 2003-04-29

Amazon.com

Exquisite Corpse is a novel, a survey of World War II history, and a commentary on surrealist art, all in one; and due to author Robert Irwin's immense skill, it does a crackerjack job with all three. The story opens in 1930s England, where Caspar, an ardent devotee of surrealism, leads a happily bohemian life. He paints his mediocre pictures, meets with his fellow surrealists in the Serapion Brotherhood, and generally subscribes to the belief that the anarchy of surrealism will lead to liberation of the imagination. Then he meets Caroline, a woman so relentlessly ordinary that she is nothing short of exotic to Caspar. He falls instantly in love with her and for a time revels in her middle-class life: her job as a secretary, her passion for amateur theatricals, her shopping excursions into department stores. When Caroline disappears from Caspar's life, he is thrown into--dare we say it?--a surreal search for her that will take him to Nazi Germany, into a mental hospital, through the war years, and eventually into the concentration camps and out again.

Journeys such as Caspar's are often labeled picaresque, and indeed, if Don Quixote had been a surrealist, his adventures might have resembled these. What makes Exquisite Corpse so enjoyable is the confidence with which Irwin threads history and art criticism through this comic romp.

Book Description

Set in London, Paris, and Munich in the 1940s and 1950s, Exquisite Corpse is, like Irwin's cult classic, The Arabian Nightmare, a novel about the strange and ever-morphing powers of the imagination. At once a love story, a mystery, and an investigation into the ideas of absurdist art, "Irwin's novel about English surrealism is funny and profound and hugely satisfying" (A. S. Byatt, Sunday Times.

Customer Reviews:

"Beauty must be convulsive or not at all" - Breton.......2001-08-03

Irwin's Exquisite Corpse captures the spirit and verve of the Surrealist Revolution more comprehensively than any since Artaud or Lautremont. Those well-versed in Surrealist literature will not only appreciate the nudges, winks, and deftly dropped names, but also appreciate the taste of Surrealism in the 30s as tensions within the camp as well as with former allies such as the Trotskyists, French Communists, and Psychoanalysts are represented within the narrative. As a piece of historical fiction the power of this novel lies in Irwin's ability to take the constellation of events and tensions within Surrealism and with the world at large and internalize them in the character of Caspar. Those unfamiliar with Surrealism or the period may need to do some homework before approaching the novel, though. However, the extra work will be well worth the effort.

Extreme Reactions.......2001-07-22

I think most people will have an extreme reaction to this book. You will really like it; you will really dislike it; or you will be really confused as to whether or not you like it. With a story that can evoke such strongly varied reactions, it is worthy of praise no matter what the result.

Exquisite.......2000-08-03

This is my favourite book, but i dont expect it to be great for everyone. You need to be in a certain mind set for it, although it's not incomrehendable. If you like surrealism, or odd love srories, you'll most likely enjoy this book. Although Casper is a surrealist, he is not annoying and does not dwell on boring topics. The book is not depressing either. The last chapter is also on of the best. I recomend this book to everyone whose favourite movie is Harold and Maude BTW (as is mine)

Exquisitely surreal and filled with art!.......1999-06-02

Robert Irwin's literary masterpiece, Exquisite Corpse sends the reader into a surrealist world of deception and dreams. His use of informal language captures the tone of the novel completely and adds to the sincerity of the work. The creation process of art correlates with the progress of Exquisite Corpse as Caspar discovers his muse of inspiration, Caroline. The novel is a first person account of Caspar's life, sort of a journal kept through his most intruiging portions of life. As interpreted by Caspar, the reader is often challenged with the thought that perhaps Caspar is making up the story as he goes along. That perhaps none of his experiences are true and that he is a pathetic drunk trying to make some sense of his life through broken memories. Irwin's use of words and imagery create a new universe as seen through Caspar's eyes. His quirky friends and enemies all have the feel of opera characters--highly overexaggerated and overdramatic. As for Caroline, she has the feeling of a non-existent dream. Did Caspar dream her up or was she real? Was Caroline the embodiment of all of his desires and fears in life, the fear of rejection and the loss of love? Or was she a human being? Only the author knows the truth and we are left to figure out this mystery ourselves. Yet, what Irwin creates is a man, lost of all reason, lost in his thoughts and dreams, making up the perfect ending to his tired life of love lost and turmoil. All in all, Exquisite Corpse is a trip through the mind of a surrealist, mind you, it's not a smooth running course, but a course that has no boundaries whatsoever.

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Exquisite Writing: Chester's weird and wonderful voice
Must Read
Great writing, but..
Every book called Exquisite Corpse has to be good

The Exquisite Corpse
Alfred Chester
Manufacturer: David R Godine
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Looking for Genet: Literary Essays and Reviews

ASIN: 1574231979

Product Description

Lyric and tender one moment, cruel and dizzying the next, The Exquisite Corpse neither celebrates perversity nor laments it; rather it projects it as part of man's never-ending search for a true self and for transcendent communion with others.

In forty-nine brief, highly cinematic chapters, we meet a series of twisted but sincere searches Tomtom Jim and his naked, hungry family; Mary Poorpoor and her utterly "otherly" baby; angry John Doe and his sex slave, James Madison each in flight from despair. As one surreal episode morphs into the next, these searchers change shape and their journeys change direction; names and identities come and go, storylines collide, and desires intertwine, all with the lightning-quick illogic of a dream. The result is a tragicomic tour de force, an upside-down roadmap to everyone's inner Sodom, a perversely moral (and morally perverse) masterpiece by a modern-day Marquis de Sade.

Customer Reviews:

Exquisite Writing: Chester's weird and wonderful voice.......2004-05-07

I'm so happy to see this book reissued. Alfred Chester is one of the most unappreciated and underrated writers of the twentieth century. At his best, Chester is up there with the best. Like much of his other writing, "The Exquisite Corpse" is filled with startling images and strange and unforgettable characters. His weird and wonderful voice is an inspiration. Chester was able to look unflinchingly at his own unhappy life (and mental illness) and use it to spin literary gold. He captures pain, loneliness, and sexual confusion on a page like few writers. Any serious writer should read him for his mastery of language and word play. Any serious reader should read him for sheer enjoyment.

Must Read.......2004-04-30

Read the first 100 pages through in one shot and am enjoying it immensely. That book has been on my must-read list for many years, but I was never able to find a copy. I mainly wanted to read it because of its cultural/historical relevance, having also read everything by Bowles (both Jane and Paul) and Burroughs, etc. But Chester's writing is exceeding my expectations in a big way. Part of his problem might have been that he was just way ahead of his time.

Great writing, but.........2003-02-17

Weaving the variegated stories of a cast of characters, "The Exquisite Corpse" is a surreal tale of loneliness that paints vivid episodes, but doesn't seem to give a sense of wholeness, of completion to its tapestry. It's a bit like the energetic style of William Burroughs, but without the cohesion (for lack of a better term) his books contain. Yes, "The Exquisite Corpse" is quite fascinating and compels the reader on, but by the final page, the reader watches as the story flits away without leaving any imprint in the reader's mind. The novel is #78 of the 100 Best Gay and Lesbian Novels.

Every book called Exquisite Corpse has to be good.......2000-11-02

I've read three books called Exquisite Corpse and they have all been excellent. This one was a little wierd and slightly hard to follow but it was an incredibly creative yet somehow realistic portrayal of the life some of the less fortunate in fates tend to lead. I intend to read every book called Exquisite Corpse that I can find.

Surrealist Collage in Text and Image: Dissecting the Exquisite Corpse (Cambridge Studies in French)

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Surrealist Collage in Text and Image: Dissecting the Exquisite Corpse (Cambridge Studies in French)
Elza Adamowicz
Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Surrealism | Schools, Periods & Styles | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0521619874

Book Description

Elza Adamowicz presents an analysis of surrealist collage, both as a technique of cutting and pasting ready made material, and as a subversive and creative strategy. She considers verbal collage, pictorial collage, and the hybrids they generate, and discusses the works of Max Ernst and André Breton, as well as those of Aragon, Brunius, Eluard, Hugnet, Magritte, Péret, Styrsky and others. Focusing on the recycling of art-historical icons, the parodic reworking of narrative clichés, the concept of defamiliarisation of the banal, or the relations between part bodies and totalities, she offers close readings of individual collages, and links specific aspects of collage practice to central issues of surrealist aesthetic and political thought. Throughout this well illustrated study Adamowicz confronts the ‘monstrous’ nature of collage, grounded on excess and composed of irretrievable fragments and hovering signs.

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A varied collection of insightful criticism
The Exquisite Corpse : Writing on Buildings

Exquisite Corpse: Writing on Buildings
Michael Sorkin
Manufacturer: Verso
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Criticism | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

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Some Assembly Required
Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things
Delirious New York: A Retroactive Manifesto for Manhattan

ASIN: 0860916871

Customer Reviews:

A varied collection of insightful criticism.......2003-01-26

Exquisite Corpse compiles Michael Sorkin's earlier works of criticism, mostly published during his time as architectural critic for The Village Voice (his latter writings were later compiled in "Some Assembly Required"). Sorkin's writing is entertaining and intelligent, and Sorkin's attacks on Philip Johnson, Donald Trump, and former New York Times Architectural Critic Paul Goldberger are particularly amusing. The book is an overall enjoyable read, if one is able to jump between the varied subject matter.

The Exquisite Corpse : Writing on Buildings.......2000-06-29

The Exquisite Corpse : Writing on Buildings by Michael Sorkin

Thus Spake the Corpse : An Exquisite Corpse Reader 1988-1998 : Volume 1, Poetry & Essays

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Wicked fun reading
The wittiest, brightest writing of the last decade.

Thus Spake the Corpse : An Exquisite Corpse Reader 1988-1998 : Volume 1, Poetry & Essays

Manufacturer: Black Sparrow Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Thus Spake the Corpse : An Exquisite Corpse Reader, 1988-1998 (Thus Spake the Corpse Vol 2)
Tooth and Claw : and Other Stories

ASIN: 1574231006

Product Description

From 1983 to 1998, Exquisite Corpse: A Journal of Books & Ideas delighted the indignant and the sophisticated and gave heartburn to the fearful and the tenured. A thorn in the side of the Literary Establishment, it attracted a cadre of contributors united by a kind of suicidal fearlessness against The Way We Think Now. Here, in two generous volumes, the editors choose some of their favorite items from an over-rich decade. These are the pieces that set the standard, enraged some people, and made the magazine necessary to those readers who, in the words of the editors, "banged their fists on unread stacks of New Yorkers and cried out as one, 'Where were you when we were dying for lack of real poetry and speculation?' "

Highlights: Poetry by Antler, James Broughton, Hayden Carruth, Tom Clark, Robert Creeley, John Giorno, Anselm Hollo, David Ignatow, James Laughlin, Gerard Malanga, Joel Oppenheimer, James Purdy, Carl Rakosi, Ed Sanders, and ninety (90!) others. Three dozen essays, including "Is Literature Useful?" by Georges Bataille, "The American Male," by Kay Boyle, "The Sur(region)alist Manifesto," by Max Cafard, "My Abortion," by Deborah Salazar, and "Letters from the Proud Highway," by Hunter S. Thompson. The best of Laura Rosenthal's column "The Body Bag," which responded to would-be contributors with witty encouragement and, occasionally, devastating criticism. And letters from Clayton Eshleman, Edward Field, Ishmael Reed, and others.

Customer Reviews:

Wicked fun reading.......1999-10-15

I miss the now-defunct "Exquisite Corpse," the most original and maybe the best American literary magazine of the 1990s. This greatest hits collection from the Corpse is a pleasure to read. Until I discovered the Corpse, I thought American literature had become the moribound property of academics and the Iowa Writers Finishing School. These essays and poems are wicked fun and thought-provoking.

By the way, the Exquisite Corpse has now become a cyber-publication.

The wittiest, brightest writing of the last decade........1999-09-24

I generally avoid poetry and literary essays, but a friend passed this along to me--and thank heavens she did. If you despair that dead academic writing and predictable journalistic writing represents the best that's out there, despair no more and buy a copy of this witty & bright anthology. Great fun & deeply thought-provoking.

Thus Spake the Corpse : An Exquisite Corpse Reader, 1988-1998 (Thus Spake the Corpse Vol 2)

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Thus Spake the Corpse : An Exquisite Corpse Reader, 1988-1998 (Thus Spake the Corpse Vol 2)

Manufacturer: Black Sparrow Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Essays | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Thus Spake the Corpse : An Exquisite Corpse Reader 1988-1998 : Volume 1, Poetry & Essays

ASIN: 1574231413

Product Description

From 1983 to 1998, Exquisite Corpse: A Journal of Books & Ideas delighted the indignant and the sophisticated and gave heartburn to the fearful and the tenured. A thorn in the side of the Literary Establishment, it attracted a cadre of contributors united by a kind of suicidal fearlessness against The Way We Think Now. Here, in two generous volumes, the editors choose some of their favorite items from an over-rich decade. These are the pieces that set the standard, enraged some peoplef, and made the magazine necessary to those readers who, in the words of the editors, "banged their fists on unread stacks of New Yorkers and cried out as one, 'Where were you when we were dying for lack of real poetry and speculation?' "

Highlights: "Lives of the Poets," including Pete Seeger on Charles Olson; Jan Kerouac on her father, Jack; John Kehoe on Charles Bukowski; Keith Abbott on Ted Berrigan; Edward Field on Alfred Chester; and (notoriously) Mark Spitzer on Ed Dorn. Fiction by Maxine Chernoff, Maggie Dubris, Barry Gifford, Eric Kraft, and twenty-three others. Travel notes (very loosely construed) by Hakim Bey, Andrei Codrescu, Pat Nolan, and Anne Waldman, And translations of Boris Vian by Julia Older, of Vladimir Pistalo by Charles Simic, of Attila Jozsef by John Batki, and of the Romanian poets of the 60's generation by several accomplished hands.

Exquisite Corpse; Ralph Helmick and Stuart Schechter

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Exquisite Corpse; Ralph Helmick and Stuart Schechter
Ralph, Stuart Schechter, Intro By Nick Capasso Helmick
Manufacturer: National Library of Medicine, Min
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000PSU7LY

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The Return of the Cadavre Exquis
Jane Philbrick
Manufacturer: Drawing Center
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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