Routledge Revivals: Lost Illusions (1974)

<p>Paul Léautaud was both one of the oddest characters in French literature and as a staff member of the review <i>Mercure de </i>France at the centre of Parisian literary life for over half a century. First published in 1974 this book represents the first full length biography of Léautaud in any language. The author recreates the world of a man who once regarded as a mere eccentric is now recognised as a significant figure in contemporary literature. It traces Léautaud’s intimate friendships with many famous writers of the time and gives a lively panorama of the French literary scene and its vivid characters.</p>