by Frédéric Beigbeder
The original title is “99 Francs” – the sales price of the book itself. In Germany is just costed 39,90 deutsch marks.
Beigbeder is one of those new generation French writers, which are very pessimistic, anti-capitalist, and almost suicidal. Another prominent writer of this movement is Michel Houellebecq.
Beigbeder describes in a mix of essay, advertisement and novel the “miserable” life of a high paid creative writer for an ad agency in Paris – and the world of marketing itself. Octave – the main character is tired of his job – despite of all the advantages – and tries everything to be fired. Only to accept a promotion later on. He survives with luxury, prostitutes, cars and cocaine. Everything is false. One of the key sentences is: My world (marketing) does not want to have happy people because happy people do not consume.
The language is hard, very fast, unforgiving and cynical. But all of that is just a cry to be saved. And, of course, the writer wants to save us as well. Therefore he does not use any of the usual euphemism to describe what is going on. he destroys the euphemism of the marketing world.
Beigbeder was indeed a creative writer in an ad agency before he became famous with this novel. Maybe therefore it is so convincing even not necessarily highest literature. The topic of the book is interesting enough.
Beigbeder is one of those new generation French writers, which are very pessimistic, anti-capitalist, and almost suicidal. Another prominent writer of this movement is Michel Houellebecq.
Beigbeder describes in a mix of essay, advertisement and novel the “miserable” life of a high paid creative writer for an ad agency in Paris – and the world of marketing itself. Octave – the main character is tired of his job – despite of all the advantages – and tries everything to be fired. Only to accept a promotion later on. He survives with luxury, prostitutes, cars and cocaine. Everything is false. One of the key sentences is: My world (marketing) does not want to have happy people because happy people do not consume.
The language is hard, very fast, unforgiving and cynical. But all of that is just a cry to be saved. And, of course, the writer wants to save us as well. Therefore he does not use any of the usual euphemism to describe what is going on. he destroys the euphemism of the marketing world.
Beigbeder was indeed a creative writer in an ad agency before he became famous with this novel. Maybe therefore it is so convincing even not necessarily highest literature. The topic of the book is interesting enough.
Facts:
English title: 9.99
Original title: 99 francs
Published: 2000
