28 Paradises

28 Paradises is a rare book that showcases the creative union of authors Modiano and Zehrfuss. It is a collection of twenty-eight dreams imagined by Zehrfuss during a period of deep sadness, which were then transformed into poems by Modiano. The book exemplifies ekphrastic writing, where poetry is inspired by paintings, creating a unique emotional experience.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 80 pages
\n Publication date: 09 May 2019
\n Publisher: David Zwirner
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28 Paradises is a rare book that showcases not only the individual talents of authors Modiano and Zehrfuss but also the profound depth of their creative union. Sensitively translated into English for the first time by Damion Searls, 28 Paradises captures the exquisite sadness of waking from a beautiful dream. Within its pages, there are twenty-eight dreams, or perhaps one dream in twenty-eight parts—visions of paradise imagined by Zehrfuss during a period of deep sadness. Captured initially in Zehrfuss's vibrant gouaches, each paradise was then reimagined as a poem by Modiano. Zehrfuss's paintings serve as miniature Edens, and rather than describe them outright, Modiano allows himself to dream into these reveries through quiet, understated verse. The reader enters this shared realm in an experience that feels more akin to slipping into a shared world than simply paging through a book. These paradises are wishes for moments when a painting, a poem, or a lover—perhaps they are not so different—can relieve the loneliness of being human. Modiano writes with a touch of wistfulness, "The Lilliputian painted her paradises / And I / Next to her / Wrote a poem." A pure example of ekphrastic writing—poetry inspired by paintings—this book demonstrates how writing and visual art can coalesce to create a singular emotional experience. Originally published by Editions de l'Olivier/Le Seuil in 2005, 28 Paradises remains a testament to the power of artistic collaboration and the enduring beauty of dreams.

\n Weight: 70g\n
Dimension: 177 x 123 x 8 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781644230022\n \n