Description
Book SynopsisThe final edition of the late Tom Phillips's defining masterpiece of postmodernism'. In 1966 the artist Tom Phillips discovered A Human Document (1892), an obscure Victorian romance by W.H. Mallock, and set himself the task of altering every page, by painting, collage or cut-up techniques, to create an entirely new version. Some of Mallock's original text remains intact and through the illustrated pages the character of Bill Toge, Phillips's anti-hero, and his romantic plight emerges. First published in 1973, A Humument as Phillips titled his altered book quickly established itself as a cult classic. From that point, the artist worked towards a complete revision of his original, adding new pages in successive editions. That process is now finished. This final edition presents an entirely new and complete version of A Humument. It includes a revised Introduction by the late artist, in which he reflects on the 50-year project, and 92 new illustrated pages.
Trade Review'Simply astounding ... and addictive' - Stephen Fry
'One of the most original, fascinating and lovely books of all time' - Brian Eno
'The closest thing a book has come to being an art object' - The New York Times
'Sly, humorous, erotic and endlessly fascinating' - Edward Lucie-Smith, Sunday Times
'A teeming world of humour, sex, sadness and art' - London Review of Books
'Turns a forgotten work into a thing of rare beauty' - Bernard Levin, Sunday Times
'Intricate, philosophical, romantic ... and often funny' - Michael Kustow, Guardian
'One of the freshest and most original pieces of art literary work you are likely to see' - The Spectator
