S/Z：An Essay

PrefacebyRichardHoward.TranslatedbyRichardMiller.ThisisBarthes'sscrupulousliteraryanalysisofBalzac'sshortstory"Sarrasine."RolandBartheswasbornin1915andstudiedFrenchliteratureandtheclassicsattheUniversityofParis.AfterteachingFrenchatuniversitiesinRomaniaandEgypt,hejoinedtheCentreNationaldeRechercheScientifique,wherehedevotedhimselftoresearchinsociologyandlexicology.HewasaprofessorattheCollegedeFranceuntilhisdeathin1980."S/Z"isBarthes'sscrupulousliteraryanalysisofBalzac'sshortstory"Sarrasine.""LanguagewasbothaluxuryandadisciplineforBarthes.Hepursuedasubjectthroughlanguageuntilhecorneredit,untilitsdisguisefellawayanditwasrevealedinakindofepiphany.Inhisownway,hecleanedthefaceofParismorethoroughlythanAndreMalrauxdidwhenheordereditsbuildingswasheddowntotheiroriginalcolorsandarrangedforlightstobeplayeduponthem.MusingonthekindofpaintingdonebysomeonelikeIngres,Barthessaysthat'paintershaveleftmovementtheamplifiedsignoftheunstable...thesolemnshudderofaposeimpossibletofixintime...themotionlessovervaluationoftheineffable.'ThismightalsoserveashisdefinitionofclassicalFrenchprose,andinordertoescapeitsencroachment,Barthesprodded,squeezedandsniffedatlanguage,likeagreatchefbuyingfruitsandvegetables.Hemuncheddistinctions.Hissentencerhythmswerethoseofamanwhotalkswithhishands."--AnatoleBroyard