Dialogues

A collection of Valéry’s dialogues, which are among his most important works of the imagination in prose

Dialogues came naturally to Paul Valéry, providing the common ground between imagination and philosophy that he was always seeking. He called the dialogue “the most supple of the forms of expression,” saying that “I found I was talking to myself in two voices, and began to write accordingly.” This volume brings together all his formal imaginary dialogues, including two, Eupalinos and Dance and the Soul, which some consider to be the fullest and most characteristic expression of his genius.

The Collected Works of Paul Valéry, the first collected edition of the writer in English, features new translations, the original French on facing pages for poetic works, and editorial notes.