The Book of Proper Names[1] (French: Robert des noms propres) is a Belgian novel by Amélie Nothomb.[2][3][4] It was first published in 2002. It is a romanticized account of the life of the singer RoBERT,[5][6] whom Nothomb became acquainted with as an avid admirer of her songs.[7]
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Author | Amélie Nothomb |
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Original title | Robert des noms propres |
Translator | Shaun Whiteside |
Language | French |
Genre | Novel |
Publication date | 2002 |
Publication place | Belgium |
Pages | 170 |
ISBN | 2-226-13389-5 |
Preceded by | The Enemy's Cosmetique |
Followed by | Antichrista |
Plot
editIn a vaguely surreal story, an extraordinary little girl is born from strange circumstances - her mother murdered her father, gave birth in prison, and then hanged herself. Plectrude, as the girl is unfortunately named by her mother, is adopted by her aunt and lives a fairy-like existence until she enrolls into the Paris Opera Ballet School, a rigorous institution portrayed as a "scalpel to slice away the last flesh of childhood."[8][9][10]
References
edit- ^ Nothomb, Amelie (2015-07-21). The Book of Proper Names: A Novel. St. Martin's Press.
- ^ "A writer's life: Amélie Nothomb". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 2015-12-10.
- ^ "Amélie Nothomb | BÉNIS SOIENT CEUX QUI INSPIRENT L'AMOUR". www.amelie-nothomb.com. Retrieved 2015-12-10.
- ^ "Amélie Nothomb | The Institute of Modern Languages Research". modernlanguages.sas.ac.uk. Retrieved 2015-12-10.
- ^ "RoBERT - Nouvel album le 24 mars avec Plastic Art Noise". robertlesite.net. Retrieved 2015-12-10.
- ^ "Myriam Roulet / France Inter". France Inter. Retrieved 2015-12-11.
- ^ ""Chanteuse RoBERT parle du roman d'Amélie Nothomb"", youtube, retrieved 2015-12-10
- ^ Figes, Kate (28 May 2004). "Review: The Book of Proper Names by Amélie Nothomb". the Guardian. Retrieved 2015-12-10.
- ^ "Murdered by her heroine". The Telegraph. May 15, 2004.
- ^ "The Scotsman, "A twisted ballerina's dance macabre" 09, May 2004".