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Book Synopsis
The Criminal Childoffers the first English translation of a key early work by Jean Genet. In 1949, in the midst of a national debate about improving the French reform-school system, Radiodiffusion Française commissionedGenet to write about his experience as a juvenile delinquent. He sent back a piece that was a paean to prison instead of the expected horrifying exposé. Revisiting the cruel hazing rituals that had accompanied his incarceration, relishing the special argot spoken behind bars, Genetbitterly denounced any improvement in the condition of young prisoners as a threat to their criminal souls. The radio station chose not to broadcast Genet''s views.

''the Criminal Child'' appears here with a selection of Genet''s finest essays, including his celebrated piece on the art of Alberto Giacometti.

Criminal Child: Selected Essays

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    A Paperback / softback by Jean Genet, Jeffrey Zuckerman

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      Book details

      Publisher The New York Review of Books, Inc
      Published 21 January 2020
      ISBN-13 9781681373614
      978-1681373614
      ISBN-10 1681373610
      Also in:
      Biography Anthologies

      Description

      Book Synopsis
      The Criminal Childoffers the first English translation of a key early work by Jean Genet. In 1949, in the midst of a national debate about improving the French reform-school system, Radiodiffusion Française commissionedGenet to write about his experience as a juvenile delinquent. He sent back a piece that was a paean to prison instead of the expected horrifying exposé. Revisiting the cruel hazing rituals that had accompanied his incarceration, relishing the special argot spoken behind bars, Genetbitterly denounced any improvement in the condition of young prisoners as a threat to their criminal souls. The radio station chose not to broadcast Genet''s views.

      ''the Criminal Child'' appears here with a selection of Genet''s finest essays, including his celebrated piece on the art of Alberto Giacometti.

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