Boris Vian (French: [bÉ"Ê is vjÉ'̃]; 10 March 1920 â€" 23 June 1959)
was a French polymath: writer, poet, musician, singer, translator,
critic, actor, inventor and engineer. Today he is remembered primarily
for his novels. Those published under the pseudonym Vernon Sullivan
were bizarre parodies of criminal fiction, highly controversial at the
time of their release due to their unconventional outlook.Vian's other
fiction, published under his real name, featured a highly individual
writing style with numerous made-up words, subtle wordplay and
surrealistic plots. His novel L'Écume des jours (literally: "The Foam
of Days") is the best known of these works and one of the few
translated into English, under the title of Froth on the Daydream.Vian
was an important influence on the French jazz scene. He served as
liaison for Hoagy Carmichael, Duke Ellington and Miles Davis in Paris,
wrote for several French jazz-reviews (Le Jazz Hot, Paris Jazz) and
published numerous articles dealing with jazz both in the United
States and in France. His own music and songs enjoyed popularity
during his lifetime, particularly the anti-war song "Le Déserteur"
(The Deserter).
was a French polymath: writer, poet, musician, singer, translator,
critic, actor, inventor and engineer. Today he is remembered primarily
for his novels. Those published under the pseudonym Vernon Sullivan
were bizarre parodies of criminal fiction, highly controversial at the
time of their release due to their unconventional outlook.Vian's other
fiction, published under his real name, featured a highly individual
writing style with numerous made-up words, subtle wordplay and
surrealistic plots. His novel L'Écume des jours (literally: "The Foam
of Days") is the best known of these works and one of the few
translated into English, under the title of Froth on the Daydream.Vian
was an important influence on the French jazz scene. He served as
liaison for Hoagy Carmichael, Duke Ellington and Miles Davis in Paris,
wrote for several French jazz-reviews (Le Jazz Hot, Paris Jazz) and
published numerous articles dealing with jazz both in the United
States and in France. His own music and songs enjoyed popularity
during his lifetime, particularly the anti-war song "Le Déserteur"
(The Deserter).
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