Very... French?
A French doctor of literature, writing under the nom de plume "Michel Thaler" has written Le Train de Nulle Part ("The Train From Nowhere"), a novel without any verbs.
Generally I've abandoned French-bashing humor ever since the Lunatic Right made that one of their standards following French officials speaking out against US military adventures in Iraq, (hoo boy, I bet that "freedom fries" bit still cuts those Frenchies to the quick, eh?!) but this is one of those instances where I have to note how cliche' the reported slant of this book is. The review (see link above) points out that the book is "filled with florid adjectives in a series of vitriolic portraits of dislikeable passengers on a train." Fairly or no, what is more stereotypically French (more specifically, Parisian) than haughty disdain? The description from critics is one of an almost misanthropic outlook, though his publisher claims that such passages are directed at characters who display "a type of modern behaviour which he" -- the author -- "finds shocking and abhors."
The author points out that, much like the Dadaist and Surrealist movements in art, this is intended as a "revolution in the history of literature." His intent is apparently to create a series of vivid images, emphasizing their nature and existence in the immediate moment. Taken at that level - minus the self-congratulatory tone - if nothing else it appears to be an intriguing experiment.
The author expressed interest in an English translation, though no formal decision to do so has been made. Presumably the publishers (current or prospective) are gauging the public reaction in the original version and the market interest for any translations.
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