The Elementary Particles
The Elementary Particles by Michel Houellebecq, published by Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group on November 13, 2001, is a softcover edition comprising 272 pages. This novel explores the lives of half-brothers Bruno and Michel, who are shaped by their abandonment and the cultural upheaval of the sixties. Bruno embraces a life of hedonism, while Michel, a molecular biologist, finds himself emotionally detached and consumed by his work. The narrative delves into their contrasting experiences as they confront the complexities of love and existence.
Readers will encounter a story that intertwines elements of psychological and visionary fiction, reflecting on the malaise of contemporary life. The novel presents a caustic examination of its characters’ struggles, offering insights into their search for connection amidst isolation. Translated from French by Frank Wynne, this edition invites readers to engage with Houellebecq’s thought-provoking themes and distinctive narrative style.
Official synopsis Publisher
An international literary phenomenon, The Elementary Particles is a frighteningly original novel–part Marguerite Duras and part Bret Easton Ellis-that leaps headlong into the malaise of contemporary existence.
Bruno and Michel are half-brothers abandoned by their mother, an unabashed devotee of the drugged-out free-love world of the sixties. Bruno, the older, has become a raucously promiscuous hedonist himself, while Michel is an emotionally dead molecular biologist wholly immersed in the solitude of his work. Each is ultimately offered a final chance at genuine love, and what unfolds is a brilliantly caustic and unpredictable tale.
Translated from the French by Frank Wynne.
Author
Publisher
Topics
FAQ
What is “The Elementary Particles” about?
Who is the author of “The Elementary Particles”?
When was “The Elementary Particles” published?
What is the ISBN for “The Elementary Particles”?
What are the book details (language, pages, edition)?
