Artaud and Céline: Two Literary Giants and Their Divergent Views on Medicine
A review in artpress (March 2016) examines two recently published collections of letters: Antonin Artaud's 'Lettres. 1937-1943' (Gallimard) and Louis-Ferdinand Céline's 'Lettres à Pierre Monnier. 1948-1952' (Gallimard, 'Les Cahiers de la NRF'). The article contrasts the writers' opposing attitudes toward medicine: Céline, a doctor, believed in it, while Artaud, who suffered from mental illness, did not. The review highlights how their correspondence reveals their personal struggles and literary methods.
Key facts
- The review appears in artpress issue 431, March 2016, page 75.
- Antonin Artaud's letters from 1937-1943 are published by Gallimard.
- Louis-Ferdinand Céline's letters to Pierre Monnier from 1948-1952 are published by Gallimard in the 'Les Cahiers de la NRF' series.
- Céline was a doctor who believed in medicine.
- Artaud did not believe in medicine.
- The article contrasts their views on medicine as revealed in their letters.
- Artaud suffered from mental illness.
- Céline's letters are addressed to Pierre Monnier.
Entities
Artists
- Antonin Artaud
- Louis-Ferdinand Céline
Institutions
- artpress
- Gallimard
- Les Cahiers de la NRF
Sources
- artpress —