Customer Reviews
Nadja - By: Christopher M. Lawrence, 19 Jun 2007 
Books such as this, overflowing with ambiguity, should be approached two ways:
The first is with an open mind, at whichin this instance, you are (providing Breton's rambling 60 page introduction doesn't bore you off) inevitably about to fall head over heels for the unusual, multi-faceted character; `Nadja'!
Yet what Nadja is; her identity, although alluring, is the voicein the back of our heads, that we silence each day that we participatein everyday life. She is the character that would not conform, freedomin purest essence, the presence that will leave shadows upon the lives of each person she meets, until inescapably stripped of her character by the ignorant minds who misinterpret her.
The second is, like I, to enter this auto-biographical account of Breton's genius with a question, which instead of readingin between the lines, you will undoubtedly find yourself falling into great crevices of self, where journeys seem to flow like underground rivers.
I recommend this book to anyone who is either looking for a good read, or seeking answers to the deepest journeys of identity & the world.
One of the most accessible surrealist texts - By: stephen p brockbank, 05 Dec 1999 This is one of the most important & underead books of the century. Standing alongside Joyce, Aragon & Durrell as a writer of place Breton writes of a Paris that is anti-monumental & anti-romantic by turns. This is not a gentle read. The relationship between the narrator & Najda leaves you stranded amoungst the disenchantment that is typical of surrealism, as opposed to the romanticism of popular-surrealism, whilst she ends up brokenin an insane asylum he marvels at the surrealists survival. She 'lacked an instinct of self presevation...'
enjoy.
Very insightful - By: , 23 Dec 1997 
Nadja is one of Breton's best worksin the way that it portrays the male/female relationship within the surrealist movement. Nadja is both a source of entertainment & enlightenment for Breton, though I saw her more as another way of objectifying the female figurein surrealist work. I loved the description & concentration on Nadja's character. On the other hand, the first several chapters of the book are almost cumbersome to all who want to get into the 'meat' of the text (I found them interesting, but some of my colleagues didn't). One thing that I must say about this work is that I don't believe that it functions as a love story, though many people that review the text feel that it does. Instead, I see it more as an interesting snapshot of relationship issues (in a surreal light) but not necessarily love issues. Another masterful work by the leader of surrealism.
