This witty, refreshing treatise from a celebrated author and seasoned teacher is a passionate defense of reading—just for the joy of it. First published in 1992 and even more relevant now, Daniel Pennac's quirky ode to reading has sold more than a million copies in his native France. Drawing on his experiences as a child, a parent, and an inner-city teacher in Paris, the author reflects on the power of story and reminds us of our right to read anything, anywhere, anytime, so long as we are enjoying ourselves. In a new translation with a foreword and illustrations by Quentin Blake, here is a guide to reading unlike any other: fresh, sympathetic, and never didactic, it is a work of literature in its own right.
Author
Daniel Pennac (real name Daniel Pennacchioni) is a French writer. He received the Prix Renaudot in 2007 for his essay Chagrin d'école. After studying in Nice he became a teacher. He began to write for children and then wrote his book series "La Saga Malaussène", that tells the story of Benjamin Malaussène, a scapegoat, and his family in Belleville, Paris. His writing style can be humorous and imaginative like in "La Saga Malaussène", but he has also written essays, such as "Comme un roman", a pedagogic essay."La Débauche", written jointly with Jacques Tardi, treats the topic of unemployment, revealing his social preoccupations.
