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Sleeping-fit of Benjamin Péret

First sleeping-fit sessions

Manuscript

Author

Author Benjamin Péret
Notes by André Breton

Description

Benjamin Péret's sleeping fit dating from 27 October 1922 immediately surpasses the results of automatic writing.

"I have a fever and a headache." The image, splendid and totally unprecedented, emerges in its raw state at the close of a line, immediately surpassing the results of automatic writing and the most accomplished creations even of Pierre Reverdy, a master in the field. In these two brief, damaged sheets, permeated with physical emotion (Éluard's hands grabbed by Péret, with a jolt shortly afterwards), oneiric exploration (the flies) becomes poetic investigation - before the experience comes to an abrupt halt, no doubt due to waking up.

27 October 1922.
2 large in-4° pages on brown paper handwritten in black pencil by Breton, who transcribes his questions and Péret's answers, inserted in an identical sheet folded in two and annotated by Breton: "Friday 27 October" and, in blue pencil: "Péret 1st sleeping fit".
"I walk around in the body of a fly. - What do you see? - There are other flies."

(Margins used).