Cocteau was as much attuned to chthonic or perverse energies as André Breton and crew. He just reached the depths with a lightness, discipline, and “hygiene” that (as with Wilde or Warhol) don’t preclude profundity. -- Brian Dillon * 4columns *
Exploring a vari­ety of arts and artists, it offers brief, allusive provocations, ranging from "Beauty hates ideas. It is sufficient unto itself," to "Poetry in films derives from unusual relationships between objects and images." Despite their brevity, this isn't a compi­lation to dip into at random: its overarching logic builds slowly throughout the book. -- Karen Backstein * Cineaste *

Jean Cocteau (1889-1963) was a writer, filmmaker and visual artist. He was prominently associated with the surrealist, avant-garde and Dadaist movements.