At first glance, this book would appear to be an exploration of the marvelous work of a writer by the name of Prosper Brouillon, one that aims to sing his praises – but that is just a façade: it is actually a fierce indictment of a certain kind of smug, lazy, institutionalized literature. What do we see when we take a closer look? That is the question Éric Chevillard answers in this book that is both fresh and enjoyable… and cutting and cut-throat! Prosper Brouillon is a collective name for the writers from whose works Chevillard collected the exemplary sentences he used to reconstruct this fabulously off-the-wall faux novel. The fruit of a bi-monthly collaboration between Éric Chevillard and the illustrator Jean-François Martin for the newspaper Le Monde, the book also includes more than 20 images that add an extra dose of humor, for a delightful outcome.

Everyone who loves literature should dive into this book, in which Éric Chevillard deploys a caustic sense of humor – and actual excerpts – to make fun of critically acclaimed authors whose books sell well.