Author:Philip Terry
A TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT BOOK OF THE YEAR 2020
'Lovers of word games and literary puzzles will relish this indispensable anthology' The Guardian
'At times, you simply have to stand back in amazement' Daily Telegraph
'An exhilarating feat, it takes its place as the definitive anthology in English for decades to come' Marina Warner
Brought together for the first time, here are 100 pieces of 'Oulipo' writing, celebrating the literary group who revelled in maths problems, puzzles, trickery, wordplay and conundrums.
Featuring writers including Georges Perec, Raymond Queneau and Italo Calvino, it includes poems, short stories, word games and even recipes. Alongside these famous Oulipians, are 'anticipatory' wordsmiths who crafted language with unusual constraints and literary tricks, from Jonathan Swift to Lewis Carroll.
Philip Terry's playful selection will appeal to lovers of word games, puzzles and literary delights.
A superb selection ... Lovers of word games and literary puzzles will relish this indispensable anthology celebrating Perec, Calvino and many others ... Terry's anthology connects us to a wider world of Oulipian wordplay, and beyond.
—— Tony White , The GuardianThere is real gold in Terry's selection ... the perfect illustration of the Oulipian balancing act of producing writing that is both wry and moving at the same time.
—— Dennis Duncan , Literary ReviewAt times, you simply have to stand back in amazement ... Philip Terry - himself a fine formalist poet and a distinguished translator of Oulipo - has put together as good a tasting menu as any. The 100 examples of Oulipian and relatedly formalist work here maintain an almost uniform virtuosic ingenuity, and reward reading, even en masse.
—— Tim Smith-Laing , Daily TelegraphMagnificent ... Terry's introduction pays witty homage to Oulipians' obsession with order, for it offers an A-Z guide to the movement's major writers and formulae.
—— Mark Ford , Times Literary SupplementPhilip Terry's collection is packed with fabulous, wide-ranging work thatdisplays the full ingenuity, brio and originality of Oulipian ideals in action. An exhilarating feat of in-depth reading, and translating, it takes its place as the definitive anthology in English for decades to come.
—— Marina WarnerPhilip Terry's rich anthology of Oulipo writings from Rabelais to Perec [is] a salutary reminder that laughter and linguistic dexterity are as much part of what it means to be human as violence and greed.
—— Gabriel Josipovici , Times Literary SupplementA wonderful anthology.
—— Michèle MétailIndispensible, informative and playful ... no two pages are alike, and every page is quite unlike anything else you've ever read.
—— Andy Brown , Stride MagazineThe greatest comic writer ever
—— Douglas AdamsWhen it comes to humour, there is only one writer who can slay you with a mere flip of the pen. This, of course, is P.G. Wodehouse
—— GuardianSuperlative.
—— Jessie Burton, 'Best Books of 2016' , ObserverCould not be more timely.
—— Louise Daughty, 'Best Books of 2016' , ObserverThe Good Immigrant is that rarest of beasts, a truly necessary book.
—— Jonathan Coe, 'Best Books of 2016' , ObserverI was deeply affected by The Good Immigrant, a vital and often bitingly funny series of personal essays
—— James Graham, 'Best Books of 2016' , ObserverShould become required reading for a new UK citizenship test – one to be taken by everyone who was born here, that is.
—— Books of the Year , Times Higher EducationA fascinating read
—— BBC BreakfastI was expecting something serious, even upsetting. The Good Immigrant is both at times, but the 21 essays are also engrossing, human and hilarious.
—— Best Books for Christmas , iSticks two fingers up at a discriminatory publishing industry.
—— New StatesmanThe essays, in turns witty, uncomfortable and inspiring, would make for great reading at any time, but were especially welcome this year.
—— Books of the Year , The PoolExistentially challenging to the status quo. It could not be more timely.
—— Readers' Books of 2016 , GuardianWhat a phenomenal book: timely, poignant and insightful. It deserves to be read as widely as possible.
—— Malorie BlackmanWarm, funny and often moving. A delight.
—— Shappi KhorsandiQuite simply a wonderful antidote to the tired cliches.
—— Fatima Manji, Channel 4 NewsA bold, beautiful and urgent book that should be read widely in these politically and racially charged times. It opened my eyes so much, and, in my opinion, is the most exciting publication of 2016.
—— Holly Muller , Big IssueI am stupidly grateful for this book. It opened my eyes to my own experience and gave me words for feelings I had known but never acknowledged. I carry it with me whenever I travel, to remind me that the world is good. Buy this book, carry it with you everywhere, give it to everyone you know. We need it now more than ever.
—— Emmy the GreatHere are a bunch of brave writers actually doing something about representation … an important book.
—— Sathnam SangheraIncisive, funny, searingly honest … it contains work that should be read by all.
—— DJ NihalBrilliant, unclichéd, unique. A book of our time, which everyone must read.
—— Shazia MirzaI want everyone to read this book. I found myself nodding along, feeling the pain, hilarity and anger.
—— Anita RaniThe Good Immigrant's strength not only comes in its numbers, but through the uniqueness of each essay inside, ranging from Coco Khan’s look at sexuality and fetishisation, through to Riz MC’s retelling of his typical treatment in airport security.
—— ComplexA stunning collection of original voices, challenging how we see race and difference.
—— Mishal HusainI knew I'd be interested in this book. I didn't realise I'd be so moved. At a time when British identity is being claimed as the exclusive preserve of people who wish immigration had stopped with Hengist and Horsa, it does the heart good to be reminded of how many of us there are, and how deeply woven we are into the fabric of our country. It's a book that will make a lot of young Britons feel more powerful and less alone. Each essay is like another new friend standing up and saying to the reader, 'I see you.'
—— Hari Kunzru