The Diving-bell and the Butterfly

On 8 December 1995, Jean-Dominique Bauby suffered a massive stroke and slipped into a coma. When he regained consciousness three weeks later, the only muscle left functioning was in his left eyelid although his mind remained as active and alert as it had ever been. He spent most of 1996 writing this book, letter by letter, blinking as an alphabet was repeatedly read out to him. ''The Diving-Bell and the Butterfly'' was published in France on Thursday 6th March 1997. It was immediately hailed as a masterpiece. And then, three days later, he died. ''The Diving-Bell and the Butterfly'', which records Bauby''s lonely existence, is probably the most remarkable book about the triumph of the human spirit, the ability to invent a life for oneself in the most appalling of circumstances, that you will ever read. It has now been made into a captivating film, directed by Julian Schnabel and starring Mathieu Amalric, which was the winner of the award for Best Director at Cannes and nominated for the Palm d''Or.

Product details

• Authors: Jean-Dominique Bauby, Jean-Dominque Bauby
• Assisted by: Jeremy Leggatt (Translation)
• Publisher: Harper Perennial UK
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback
• Released: 06.05.2002
• EAN: 9780007139842
• ISBN: 978-0-00-713984-2
• Dimensions: 130 mm x 200 mm x 10 mm
• Series: HarperPerennial; Harper Perennial; Harper Perennial
• Subjects: Fiction > Narrative literature > Letters, diaries; Non-fiction book > Philosophy, religion > Biographies, autobiographies; Leben mit Behinderung, Englische Bücher / Biografie, Erinnerung, Schlaganfall / Berichte, Erfahrungen