The Glorious Lie / The Glory of the Lie: A Card Game Inspired by Stephane Mallarme's the Book

Stéphane Mallarmé's The Book is an open-ended Tarot-esque card game that draws from his notes and other writings. Each deck contains 48 cards with artwork and words or phrases, reflecting descriptions and clues in Mallarmé's notes. The game is played by pulling cards from each of the four decks and laying them out for one reading, then flipping them over for a second reading. The image cards function like the Arcana of Tarot, providing a visual language equal to the word cards. The readings can be used to create poetry or to divine or illuminate.

Format: Cards
Length: 20 pages
Publication date: 07 August 2022
Publisher: Marquand Books Inc

Upon his passing in 1898, Stéphane Mallarmé (1842–98) left behind a vast collection of notes for an unfinished masterpiece he referred to as "The Book." This remarkable card-deck concept, housed in a transparent Plexiglas box, draws inspiration from Mallarmé's extensive writings and various allusions to its potential manifestations, including a letter in which he describes "a book that is architectural." The poet's duty, according to this orphic interpretation of the Earth, is to provide an explanation, and the literary game par excellence is none other than the game at hand. The title of this captivating game is derived from a letter in which Mallarmé writes, "perhaps the title of my volume of lyric poetry will be 'The Glory of the Lie,' or 'The Glorious Lie.'" Each deck comprises 48 cards, featuring three artworks on each side and 45 words or phrases on each side. The size, gold edging, and physical arrangement of the decks within the box mirror the descriptions and clues found in Mallarmé's notes. While the specific manner of playing the game remains open to interpretation, quotes and diagrams provided in the accompanying 20-page booklet offer insights into the possibility of drawing cards from each of the four decks and arranging them for a single reading, followed by flipping the cards over for a second interpretation. Similar to the Arcana of Tarot, the image cards serve as a visual language that complements the word cards. These readings can be employed for poetic creation, akin to Tarot's divination or illumination purposes.

Weight: 2359g
Dimension: 218 x 124 x 114 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781646570249