The Inventors

"An important member of the French Resistance, Char wrote a variety of poetry ranging from verse to prose and the philosophical to the politically engaged, all of which employs experimental, engaging imagery. This collection provides an entree into the poet's work over his career with thoughtful English translations that remain faithful to the originals while maintaining their resonant lyricism."-- "World Literature Today" "The book feels complete and welcoming, enrapturing as an English-language text of the poetry of Char. Hutchinson and Seagull have released what English readers of Char have needed: a mixture of the beautiful and the scholarly that will open up all readers of Char's amazing art to vast levels of new understanding."-- "Queen Mobs Teahouse" "With the release of The Inventors, beautifully translated by Hutchinson, Seagull Books does poetry readers a great service by reinvigorating interest in a man once named by Albert Camus as 'France's greatest living poet.' The Inventors is meant to be read alongside Hutchinson's other translation, Hypnos: Notes from the French Resistance, and for me this is not optional--independently they are each beautiful books, but together they are stunning."-- "Bookslut" "Char's The Inventors and Other Poems translated by Hutchinson, makes a fine introduction to this major figure, and Seagull's publications are beautiful objects in themselves." -- "Independent"

Rene Char was born in L'Isle-sur-Sorgue in the south of France in 1907 and died in Paris in 1988. A major influence on the generation of French poets who came of age after the Second World War, he was a close friend and associate of Albert Camus. He is widely considered the foremost French poet of his generation. Mark Hutchinson was born in London and lives in Paris. Among his many translations from the French are several books by the poet Emmanuel Hocquard and a collection of essays by the sculptor Raymond Mason.