A Certain Lucas

By Julio Cortázar

Book Overview

A kaleidoscopic novel by Julio Cort zar, A Certain Lucas contains a series of brilliant, eccentrically interlocking pieces, by turns comic, philosophical, allusive, and always a pleasure to read. In short takes, we are plunged directly into the life of Lucas, learning about his patriotism, his friends ("a list of cronies large and varied"), his shopping routines (always in his pajamas), his favorite pianists, his battles with the Hydra ("now that he's growing old he realizes it's not easy to kill it") . . . his world is described in multiple quick parodies, with hilarious evocations of the latest trends: physical fitness, semiotics, cool pornography, and animal ESP. We are given glimpses and ultimately offered a strange, yet rounded portrait of a complete man, but not just any man. . . . This is a certain Lucas.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0811239373
• ISBN13: 9780811239370
• Release Date: October 2025
• Publisher: New Directions Publishing Corporation
• Length: 144 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.1" x 7.9"

Customer Reviews

A great funny book

A Certain Lucas demostrates the writting ability of Julio Cortazar, focused on the everyday things that make him laugh. If Cronopios and Famas touched you, this will make you laugh