André Breton: Sketch for an Early Portrait

Breton's stature is much greater than that of a number of contemporaries who have received, already, far more attention from the critics than he. It provides justification without excuse, especially when the commentator's purpose is to shed light on the intricacies of Breton's mind, the significance of his original work, or the impact of his ideas on twentieth-century culture. Hence the aim pursued in the present study may be stated without further preamble: To attempt to broaden understanding of the evolution of Andr� Breton's thinking during a critical period in his life, the one which brought him to leadership of the surrealist movement in France. Evidently, the focus here is narrow, the goal being to give clearer definition to the intellectual state of a young man emerging from doubt--and so from self-doubt--into renewed confidence in his poetic calling.