Date
Thu January 12, 2012
The Proust Questionnaire, with Jenny Downham
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The Proust Questionnaire, with Christopher Meades
Submitted by Grace on April 3, 2012 - 9:33am
Christopher Meades is the author of The Last Hiccup (ECW Press), a darkly funny novel set in 1930s Russia. The Last Hiccup tells the story of Vlad, an eight-year-old boy whose hiccups last more than a decade and change the course of his entire life. In his answers to the Proust Questionnaire, Christopher tells Open Book about about the importance of a good bluff, his very specific favourite colour and his penchant for villains. 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? Second, my novel The Last Hiccup. My publisher was extremely supportive, my editor (gently) steered me in the right direction and I didn’t have to compromise my vision in the slightest. I’m just so thrilled it’s out in the world now. What is your motto? Check back for more Proust Questionnaires with great Canadian writers. Related item from our archives |