Pierre Ryckmans Pierre Ryckmans i(A16180 works by) (a.k.a. P. Ryckmans)
Also writes as: Simon Leys
Born: Established: 28 Sep 1935 Uccle, Brussels, Belgium, Western Europe, Europe, ; Died: Ceased: 11 Aug 2014 Canberra, Australian Capital Territory,
Gender: Male
Arrived in Australia: 1970
Heritage: Belgian
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Works By

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1 y separately published work icon Prosper : A Voyage at Sea Simon Leys , Collingwood : Black Inc. , 2015 8753512 2015 single work prose travel

''A big liner, brightly lit, passes us one or two cable-lengths ahead. 'Ow! They are guzzling champagne but cannot see what's in front of them!' grumbles Etienne, who has the helm and puts Prosper back on course. Our wooden boat, which one long wave can carry, is a mere cork in the wake of that ship, which crushes three dozen such waves under her uncaring steel plates. How many hundreds of men does she carry? Up there, people laugh, play, dream, eat and sleep … while we, a few feet above the water, surrounded by dancing lights, keep watch till dawn.'

'One summer, Simon Leys joined the crew of a tuna-fishing boat in Brittany, one of the last boats working under sail. In this exceptionally beautiful and elegiac essay, he evokes the traditions, hardships and dangers of the oldest and finest form of seamanship.' (Publication summary)
1 9 y separately published work icon The Hall of Uselessness Simon Leys , Collingwood : Black Inc. , 2011 Z1792293 2011 selected work essay 'An essential collection of essays from an eminent critic.

'Simon Leys' cultural and political commentary has spanned four decades, with no corner of the arts escaping his sharp eye and acerbic wit. The Hall of Uselessness forms the most complete collection yet of Leys' fascinating essays, from Quixotism to China, from the sea to literature.

'Leys feuds with Christopher Hitchens, ponders the popularity of Victor Hugo and analyses the posthumous publication of Nabokov's unfinished novel. He offers valuable insights into Mao's Cultural Revolution and the Khmer Rouge, and discusses Orwell, Waugh and Confucius. He considers the intertwined nature of Chinese art, culture and history alongside the joys and difficulties of literary translation. The Hall of Uselessness is an illuminating compendium from a brilliant and highly acclaimed writer - a long-time resident of Australia who is truly a global citizen. (From the publisher's website.)
1 The Experience of Literary Translation Simon Leys , 2011 single work essay
— Appears in: The Best Australian Essays : A Ten Year Collection 2011;
1 Lies That Tell the Truth Simon Leys , 2007 single work essay
— Appears in: The Monthly , November no. 29 2007; (p. 40-46)
1 Master Storyteller in Seamless Form Simon Leys , 2007 single work review
— Appears in: The Weekend Australian , 27-28 October 2007; (p. 12-13)
— Review of The Memory Room Christopher Koch , 2007 single work novel
1 Prosper Simon Leys , 2005 single work prose autobiography
— Appears in: The Wreck of the Batavia and Prosper 2005; (p. 67-110)
1 7 y separately published work icon The Wreck of the Batavia and Prosper Simon Leys , Melbourne : Black Inc. , 2005 Z1266186 2005 selected work prose essay autobiography
1 The Wreck of the Batavia : Anatomy of a Massacre Simon Leys , 2005 single work essay
— Appears in: The Wreck of the Batavia and Prosper 2005; (p. 1-59)
1 Ethics and Aesthetics: The Chinese Lesson Pierre Ryckmans , 2004 single work essay
— Appears in: The Best Australian Essays 2004 2004; (p. 141-146)
1 Writers and Money Pierre Ryckmans , 2002-2003 single work essay
— Appears in: The Bulletin , 17 December-14 January vol. 120 no. 6355 2002-2003; (p. 52-55) Ryckmans reports on the income and publishing successes of several high profile European and American writers.
1 Reading Pierre Ryckmans , 2001 extract criticism (The View from the Bridge : Aspects of Culture)
— Appears in: The Boyer Collection : Highlights of the Boyer Lectures : 1959-2000 2001; (p. 475-489)
1 Why to Muse and How Pierre Ryckmans , 2000 single work autobiography
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 23 December 2000; (p. 2-3)
1 A Portrait of Proteus Pierre Ryckmans , 2000 single work essay
— Appears in: The Best Australian Essays 2000 2000; (p. 464-496)
1 Shanghai Tryst Pierre Ryckmans , 2000 single work review
— Appears in: The Australian's Review of Books , December vol. 5 no. 11 2000; (p. 10, 27)
— Review of The Red Thread Nicholas Jose , 2000 single work novel
1 4 y separately published work icon The Angel and the Octopus : Collected Essays 1983-1998 Simon Leys , Potts Point : Duffy and Snellgrove , 1999 Z239609 1999 selected work prose
2 y separately published work icon Les Deux Acrobates The Two Acrobats Jeanne Ryckmans , Simon Leys (illustrator), Paris : Seuil Jeunesse , 1998 Z1431906 1998 single work children's fiction children's

'Frederick & Basil were the best of friends . . .

'From father and daughter team Pierre & Jeanne Ryckmans, Piccolo Nero presents The Two Acrobats. This is a charming, tightrope-walking tale for people big and small, in which we encounter friendship, the circus and the President of France. Poor Basil, he really shouldn’t have eaten those snails . . .' (Publication summary)
1 y separately published work icon The View from the Bridge : Aspects of Culture Pierre Ryckmans , Sydney : ABC Books , 1996 Z1082423 1996 single work criticism
1 Are Books Useless? Pierre Ryckmans , 1996-1997 extract criticism (The View from the Bridge : Aspects of Culture)
— Appears in: Australian Humanities Review , December-February no. 4 1996-1997;
1 An Introduction to Confucius Pierre Ryckmans , 1995 single work prose
— Appears in: Quadrant , March vol. 39 no. 3 1995; (p. 18-24)
1 Balzac's Genius and Other Paradoxes Pierre Ryckmans , 1995 single work prose
— Appears in: Quadrant , April vol. 39 no. 4 1995; (p. 35-39)
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