Incidents (The French List)

French philosopher and literary theorist Roland Barthes was one of the leading influences on the post-structuralist movement in twentieth-century literary thought, and some of his best-known works, like S/Z, speak directly to the essential and individual relationship between a reader and a literary text. In Incidents, readers have the privilege of going inside the life and thought of Barthes, through a book that is a testament to Barthes€ belief that a literary work should invite the full, active participation of the reader.

       The essays collected in Incidents, originally published in French shortly after Barthes€ death, provide unique insight into the author€s life, his personal struggles, and his delights. Though Barthes questioned the act of keeping a journal with the aim of having it published, he decided to undertake a diary-like experiment in four parts. The first, which gives the collection its title, is a revealing personal account of his time living in Morocco. The second, €œThe Light of the Southwest,€ is an ode to Barthes€ favorite region in France, while in €œAt Le Palace Tonight,€ Barthes describes a vibrant Paris night spot. Finally, the journal entries of €œEvenings in Paris€ reveal Barthes as an older gay man, struggling with his desire for young lovers.

       Rendered here in a lyrical new translation alongside the striking photographs of Bishan Samaddar, Incidents will delight fans of Barthes€ other works, as well as anyone curious for a look inside the mind of one of the twentieth century€s foremost intellectuals.