ArchivesSpace at the University of Iowa

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.

This book appears to be an autobiographical-based experimental novel with a large cast of characters. The protagonist, Jim Arch, appears to be based upon jas h. duke and Ann who is Anna Blume. The Sackner Archive holds two artist books done by her. The end of their romance on the final page parodies the Molly Bloom's speech at the end of James Joyce's Ulysses: Is it all over now? said Ann. Yes said Jim.Yes I think so. Yes I'm certain. Yes.The time period of this novel vacillates between the time that the novel was written to a much earlier time such as the 17th century. The well known characters include Janis Joplin, Spiderman, Daniel Webster, Ben Franklin, Jonathan Swift, Oblomov, and Lord Byron among others. This book is printed in a many divergents layouts. -- Source of annotation: Marvin or Ruth Sackner.

This book appears to be an autobiographical-based experimental novel with a large cast of characters. The protagonist, Jim Arch, appears to be based upon jas h. duke and Ann who is Anna Blume. The Sackner Archive holds two artist books done by her. The end of their romance on the final page parodies the Molly Bloom's speech at the end of James Joyce's Ulysses: Is it all over now? said Ann. Yes said Jim.Yes I think so. Yes I'm certain. Yes.The time period of this novel vacillates between the time that the novel was written to a much earlier time such as the 17th century. The well known characters include Janis Joplin, Spiderman, Daniel Webster, Ben Franklin, Jonathan Swift, Oblomov, and Lord Byron among others. This book is printed in a many divergents layouts. -- Source of annotation: Marvin or Ruth Sackner.

The three erotic drawings rerproduced in this book were made by Ramon Alejandro. -- Source of annotation: Marvin or Ruth Sackner.

Foley contributes an Afterword in which he points out that Berry phrases juxtaposed to other phrases may have nothing to do with each other. Foley indicates that readers identify the value of a text with its unity but Berry's text is deliberately & fundamentally incoherent - though it is not insane. Berry is not under the delusion that his text makes sense whereas in fact it does not. It is a glimpse of chaos that allows us to hold our minds, without danger, in constant perception of a powerful force, -- Source of annotation: Marvin or Ruth Sackner.