When a book is ‘written’ by a paralysed man flickering one eyelid, it might seem that the fact of writing is more remarkable than the book itself. Not when that book is The Diving-Bell and the Butterfly.
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| Primary Genre | Biographies & Autobiographies |
The Diving-Bell and the Butterfly is one of five classic Fourth Estate books to be released as numbered, collectable editions to mark the 25th anniversary. The books will be beautifully produced hardbacks, limited to 2000 copies each, with jackets designed by some of the finest artists at work today.
On 8 December 1995, Jean-Dominique Bauby suffered a massive stroke and slipped into a coma. When he regained consciousness three weeks later, the only muscle left functioning was in his left eyelid although his mind remained as active and alert as it had ever been. He spent most of 1996 writing this book, letter by letter, blinking as an alphabet was repeatedly read out to him. ‘The Diving-Bell and the Butterfly’ was published in France on Thursday 6th March 1997. It was immediately hailed as a masterpiece. And then, three days later, he died.
‘The Diving-Bell and the Butterfly’, which records Bauby’s lonely existence, is probably the most remarkable book about the triumph of the human spirit, the ability to invent a life for oneself in the most appalling of circumstances, that you will ever read.
It has now been made into a captivating film, directed by Julian Schnabel and starring Mathieu Amalric, which was the winner of the award for Best Director at Cannes and nominated for the Palm d’Or.
The Diving-Bell and the Butterfly - Fourth Estate 25th anniversary edition features in the following genres: Biographies & Autobiographies, Biography, Literature and Literary studies
The Diving-Bell and the Butterfly - Fourth Estate 25th anniversary edition is available in Hardback
The Diving-Bell and the Butterfly - Fourth Estate 25th anniversary edition was written by Jean-dominique Bauby and published by Harpercollins Publishers
