Albert Cohen

[Hemmo]

Couldn't see much here about Greek/Swiss writer Albert Cohen. He's best known, particularly in France, for Belle de Seigneur. I've just finished the two books that precede that: 'Solal' and 'Mangeclous' - both funny books, written in the 1930s (the follow up Belle de Seigneur didn't appear until the 1960s) that start chaotically among the Jewish community on the Greek island before moving to more organised Switzerland. Mangeclous in particular is very ambitious - starting with a comic sequence in Greece, then taking those`characters to the League of Nations in Geneva, then moving completely into the lives of a separate, dull, rich couple in Switzerland. From what I know Belle De Seigneur will bring these strands together but it still seems strange given the 30 year gap between books. The best thing about both books is the style - comic, OTT but always controlled - Cohen is particularly good at poking fun at bureaucracies.

Anyone else read any Cohen and got any thoughts?

[Liam]

Interesting. Thanks for sharing. I've never even heard of him before.