Stroke by Stroke

“Michaux is the poet laureate of our insomnia.”—Anatole Broyard, The New York Times Book Review

“Michaux travels via his languages: lines, words, colors, silences, rhythms. And he does not hesitate to break the back of a word…. In order to arrive: where? At that nowhere that is here, there, and everywhere.”—Octavio Paz

A pairing of two of Henri Michaux’s most contemplative texts—Stroke by Stroke (Par des traits, 1984) and Grasp (Saisir, 1979)—written toward the end of his life. The author’s ink drawings accompany his poetic exploration of animals, insects, language, and human nature. Explosive, measured accounts of men and beasts.