This proof copy with justified margins and paragraph signs rather than indents or spaces was designed by Richard Eckersley. Mary Ann Caws writes in the introduction that among the writings of Breton, this work is the most philosophical and political; the whole edifice of Surrealism is based on its theories. Breton attempts to establish a communicating vessel or "conduction wire between the far to distant wirlds if waking and sleep, exterior and interior reality, reason and madness, the assurance of knowledge and of love, of life for life and the revolution." -- Source of annotation: Marvin or Ruth Sackner.

Includes a reprint of Desnos and Ray's manuscript scenario for the film, L'Etoile de mer. -- Source of annotation: Marvin or Ruth Sackner.

Consists of a collection of critical essays previously published in academic periodicals. Her chapter, "Edging and Hedging" analyzes concrete poems by Lora-Totino (Spazio), Ulrichs (Eros), Gomringer (Silenzio), and Finlay ( The Wartime Garden). Caws analyzes the varient works of concrete poetry by the Frenchmen Lionel Ray and Edmond Jabes that she designates optical poetry as related to reading of the poems not to their optical imagery as in the typings of Dom Sylvester Houedard. -- Source of annotation: Marvin or Ruth Sackner.