Date
Wed August 1, 2012
On Editing, with Beth Follett
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The Proust Questionnaire, with Bertrand Laverdure
Submitted by Grace on November 7, 2014 - 2:50pm
Bertrand Laverdure has no fear when it comes to pulling from a variety of genres to create something new, unsettling and innovative. Newly translated into English by Oana Avasilichioaei, Bertrand's Universal Bureau of Copyrights (BookThug) is part sci-fi dystopia, part social commentary and all addictive storytelling. It imagines a world where free will is non-existent and copyrights to all things are bought and sold by the government — including copyrights for people. Today Bertrand joins us to take on the Proust Questionnaire, where in his trademark, candid voice, he tells us about the writer who gets it all, the literary death he envies and what's in the microwave. The Proust Questionnaire was not invented by Marcel Proust, but it was a much loved game by the French author and many of his contemporaries. The idea behind the questionnaire is that the answers are supposed to reveal the respondent's "true" nature. What is your dream of happiness? What is your idea of misery? Where would you like to live? What qualities do you admire most in a man? What qualities do you admire most in a woman? What is your chief characteristic? What is your principal fault? What is your greatest extravagance? What faults in others are you most tolerant of? What do you value most about your friends? What characteristic do you dislike most in others? What characteristic do you dislike most in yourself? What is your favourite virtue? What is your favourite occupation? What would you like to be? What is your favourite colour? What is your favourite flower? What is your favourite bird? What historical figure do you admire the most? What character in history do you most dislike? Who are your favourite prose authors? Who are your favourite poets? Who are your favourite heroes in fiction? Who are your heroes in real life? Who is your favourite painter? Who is your favourite musician? What is your favourite food? What is your favourite drink? What are your favourite names? What is it you most dislike? What natural talent would you most like to possess? How do you want to die? What is your current state of mind? What do you consider your greatest accomplishment? What is your motto? Related item from our archives |
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