Status
Available
Genres
Publication
Savoy Books (2000), Edition: Revised, 208 pages
User reviews
LibraryThing member soylentgreen23
Writing a book of nonsense is an easy task: the difficult, nay almost impossible task is to write a good book of nonsense. With Engelbrecht, the dwarf surrealist boxer, Maurice Richardson has demonstrated precisely how to write a good nonsense book.
There are two aspects of 'The Exploits of
The second aspect is the delightful language through which the stories are told. Engelbrecht is unfailingly introduced as the dwarf surrealist boxer, as if, moving from story to story, we might have forgotten who he was. Then there are the little 'cliches' that Richardson invents, such as referring to the 'priceless gift of consciousness'. Every time he recycles such language it is like meeting an esteemed colleague on the street - a joy, in other words.
'The Exploits of Engelbrecht' is not for everyone. I like to think that it appeals most to those of us with the most refined sensibilities (among whom of course I count myself); if you'd like to join the club, we can thank Rhys Hughes for the new Kindle version, and Christopher Fowler for reminding us all of this magnificent writer, in his book 'Forgotten Authors'.
There are two aspects of 'The Exploits of
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Engelbrecht' that make it a timeless classic. First of all, and most crucially, Richardson takes his subject matter seriously. Outside of the dialogue, I do not recall a single exclamation mark, and the prose is free of hyperbole. The nonsense that occurs merely occurs, and much passes without judgement. The world, therefore, is real, and we are witnesses to the dark horror of funny things happening that are not considered even remotely funny by any of the marvellous cast of characters - they are events that must be lived through.The second aspect is the delightful language through which the stories are told. Engelbrecht is unfailingly introduced as the dwarf surrealist boxer, as if, moving from story to story, we might have forgotten who he was. Then there are the little 'cliches' that Richardson invents, such as referring to the 'priceless gift of consciousness'. Every time he recycles such language it is like meeting an esteemed colleague on the street - a joy, in other words.
'The Exploits of Engelbrecht' is not for everyone. I like to think that it appeals most to those of us with the most refined sensibilities (among whom of course I count myself); if you'd like to join the club, we can thank Rhys Hughes for the new Kindle version, and Christopher Fowler for reminding us all of this magnificent writer, in his book 'Forgotten Authors'.
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LibraryThing member pamelad
The narrator first meets Engelbrecht at the Walpurgis Night Witch Shoot, which is just like a duck shoot except that the vicar and choir are the beaters, the loaders are chaplains and instead of ducks, the prey are witches and warlocks. Englebrecht seemed a pleasant enough little chap - a dwarf, of
The Exploits of Englebrecht is a collection of short stories, most of them based on sporting contests organised by the Surrealist Sporting Club. They're all ludicrous and extremely funny. There's Engelbrecht's greatest ever fight, with a Grandfather clock, a golf match that covers the universe and goes on for centuries, a football match against Mars. The narration is deadpan, as though these are the sort of events you'd read about in the daily paper.
I'd be almost certain that The Exploits of Engelbrecht wouldn't qualify as surrealist literature, despite being littered with the term surrealist. Every time I came across the phrase "when he recovered the priceless gift of consciousness" I had to laugh.
I absolutely recommend this extraordinarily funny, madly imaginative book.
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course, like nearly all surrealist boxers who do most of their fighting with clocks."" He and the narrator are sharing "the finest witch stand in England, and they say the splash as the witches plop into the water all round you is the most exciting sound in the world for a witch shooter and one he never forgets."The Exploits of Englebrecht is a collection of short stories, most of them based on sporting contests organised by the Surrealist Sporting Club. They're all ludicrous and extremely funny. There's Engelbrecht's greatest ever fight, with a Grandfather clock, a golf match that covers the universe and goes on for centuries, a football match against Mars. The narration is deadpan, as though these are the sort of events you'd read about in the daily paper.
I'd be almost certain that The Exploits of Engelbrecht wouldn't qualify as surrealist literature, despite being littered with the term surrealist. Every time I came across the phrase "when he recovered the priceless gift of consciousness" I had to laugh.
I absolutely recommend this extraordinarily funny, madly imaginative book.
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LibraryThing member mkfs
Strangely formulaic, but enjoyable nonetheless. The Surrealist Sportsman's Club whiles away the mind, wagering years on the outcome of cosmological bouts of various gentleman's sport, clinging tightly to the priceless gift of consciousness which distinguishes us from the beasts.
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1950
ISBN
0861301072 / 9780861301072