![]() ![]() ![]() Just as Prague seems something of a living museum of its own history, Armand’s style becomes a pastiche of the densest and richest of what Joyce (puns and wordplay), Eco (obsession with historical trivia), Foster Wallace (capitalism and its discontents) and Borges (book as a house of 1001 storeys/stories) have brought to bear on the art of narrative. On the basis of a suspenseful story of one Nemec, in search for “the philosophers’ stone of manuscripts”, and other people in search for Nemec, Armand paints a panoramic picture of the fabulous city’s troubled pasts and even more troubled presents. A veritable “crossmess parzel” (FW, 619.5) of the most finely-woven Joycean silk. Armand’s is a very thickly layered text, a text of quizzes & riddles, puns and puzzles. Figuring out “how to read” The Combinations is definitely part of the rebus, of the tedium, and of the fun. And however retro a sentiment in an age of “digital media” and “post-literacy”, it’s one that this text presents & explores seriously. It might be said to be purposefully difficult to read. Why bother with firebricks when you can stuff 139 of these scale replica pocket editions of this opus hocus in the collective stocking?Īrmand’s book is not easy to read. Order here or enter the Goodreads giveaway here (starts Mar 8), or write directly to us for review copies. Equus Press is proud to announce the release of the 2nd “pocket” edition of Louis Armand’s The Combinations aka The Big Combo. ![]()
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