This book contains three illustrations by Hans Bellmer. -- Source of annotation: Marvin or Ruth Sackner.

Zurn was the companion of Hans Bellmer; she suffered from mental illness the last 13 years of her life. The book was written in 1958 after she developed a case of jaundice. Contains 18 surrealistic, calligraphic drawings related to the text. -- Source of annotation: Marvin or Ruth Sackner.

Unica Zurn's writings are largely auto-biographical and reflect her long journey into mental illness. She was the long-time companion of Hans Bellmer. She produced poetry, novels, anagrams and automatic drawings and travelled in the artistic circles of the Surrealists. "The years from 1957 to 1967 are documented in the main text of the Man of Jasmine...The cycle of her crises, the contrasts between the miracles, her feelings of megalomania and the crushing banality and tedium of life in mental hospitals, is captured vividly...Zurn's acumen and artistry, her virtuosity as a writer were able to withstand her mental crises and depressions and allowed her to add a further masterpiece to a small precious row of unclassifiable works." Zurn committed suicide in 1969. -- Source of annotation: Marvin or Ruth Sackner.