Michel Leiris

1901–1990 · lived 89 years

Michel Leiris was a French writer, ethnographer, and surrealist poet, known for his autobiographical work and his investigations into the human condition and culture. His writing is characterized by deep introspection, exploration of identity, memory, and the body, and a lyrical, fragmentary style. Leiris was a central figure in the surrealist movement and participated in important ethnographic expeditions.

n. 1901-04-20, 16.º arrondissement de Paris · m. 1990-09-30, Saint-Hilaire

15 Views

Bio

Born on April 20, 1901, in the 16th arrondissement of Paris, Michel Leiris dedicated his life to exploring writing as a means of self-knowledge and understanding the world. After joining the surrealist group in 1924, he participated in ethnological expeditions to Africa, experiences that shaped his views on otherness and cultural representation. His best-known work is 'L'Âge d'homme' (1939), a raw and complex self-portrait that challenges literary conventions. Throughout his career, Leiris explored various genres, including poetry, essays, and diaries, always focusing on the investigation of his own psyche and the relationship between the individual and society. He also served as a curator at the Musée de l'Homme and was a member of the Académie Française.

Poems

No poems found

Quotes

Where all is but dream, reasoning and arguments are of no use, truth and knowledge nothing.

The sheer quantity of brain power that hurled itself voluntarily and quixotically into the search for new baseball knowledge was either exhilarating or depressing, depending on how you felt about baseball. The same intellectual resources might have cured the common cold, or put a man on Pluto.

Comments (0)

No comments yet. Be the first to comment.