The Diving-Bell and the Butterfly

Jean-Dominique Bauby

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Paperback

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French

Fourth Estate
26 March 2018

Biography; Autobiography: general; Coping with disability

The diary of Jean-Dominique Bauby who, with his left eyelid (the only surviving muscle after a massive stroke) dictated a remarkable book about his experiences locked inside his body. A masterpiece and a bestseller in France, it is now a major motion picture directed by Julian Schnabel.

On 8 December 1995, Jean-Dominique Bauby suffered a massive stroke and slipped into a coma. When he regained consciousness three weeks later, the only muscle left functioning was in his left eyelid although his mind remained as active and alert as it had ever been. He spent most of 1996 writing this book, letter by letter, blinking as an alphabet was repeatedly read out to him. ‘The Diving-Bell and the Butterfly’ was published in France on Thursday 6th March 1997. It was immediately hailed as a masterpiece. And then, three days later, he died.

‘The Diving-Bell and the Butterfly’, which records Bauby’s lonely existence, is probably the most remarkable book about the triumph of the human spirit, the ability to invent a life for oneself in the most appalling of circumstances, that you will ever read.

It has now been made into a captivating film, directed by Julian Schnabel and starring Mathieu Amalric, which was the winner of the award for Best Director at Cannes and nominated for the Palm d’Or.

By: Jean-Dominique Bauby
Imprint: Fourth Estate
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Edition: Film tie-in ed
Dimensions: Height: 198mm, Width: 129mm, Spine: 10mm
Weight: 70g
ISBN: 9780007139842
ISBN 10: 0007139845
Pages: 144
Publication Date: 26 March 2018
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Jean-Dominique Bauby was born in 1952. He was the Editor-in-Chief of French Elle Magazine. He died on 9 March 1997.

Reviews for The Diving-Bell and the Butterfly

'The most remarkable memoir of our time.' Cynthia Ozick 'Read this book and fall back in love with life.' Edmund White 'A staggering piece of work. It represents an almost inconceivable act of generosity, the gift of the mind and the spirit for which writing was designed.' A. L. Kennedy 'One of the great books of the century.' Financial Times 'Everyone in the country should own at least one copy.' Guardian 'We listen, because what he has to say goes to the core of what it means to be human.' Robert McCrum, Observer 'The most extraordinary book of the year.' Daily Telegraph 'Life-enhancing and devastating in equal measure -- everyone should read it.' Gloss magazine