Jean-Pierre Brisset's Complete Works Published by Presses du Réel

Presses du Réel has published the complete works of Jean-Pierre Brisset (1845-1913), a self-taught linguist and 'Prince of Thinkers,' in a two-volume set totaling over 2,100 pages. Brisset developed a fantastical linguistic theory claiming that human language originated from frog sounds, arguing that French phonemes preserve traces of amphibian ancestors. His works include 'La Grammaire logique' (1883), 'La Science de Dieu' (1900), and 'Les Origines humaines' (1913). Brisset, a former swimming instructor, soldier wounded at Givonne in 1870, and stationmaster in Angers, was hoaxed into believing he had been elected 'Prince des penseurs' in 1913 by Jules Romains and a group of students. Despite the mockery, his work influenced avant-garde artists including Marcel Duchamp, who cited Brisset alongside Raymond Roussel as a key inspiration. Michel Foucault and Jacques Lacan also engaged with his theories. The publication includes a companion volume edited by Brisset scholar Marc Décimo, featuring essays on Brisset's grammar and critical reception.