Things: A Story of the Sixties

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Things is a novel by Georges Perec. It received the Prix Renaudot in 1965.

It recounts the life of a young couple - both pollsters - in the 1960's. At the end of the book, they depart to live in Tunisia.

This novel also explores "happiness" in a consumer society.

[edit] Extracts

In the french:

“

Jérôme et Sylvie sont un couple de classe moyenne vivant à Paris. Ils sont tous deux psychosociologues, c'est-à-dire qu'ils sont chargés de mener des enquêtes sur des produits auprès de la population. Ils ne s'intéressent pas à leur métier et rêvent d'une vie grandiose, pleine de richesse et de belles choses. Mais leurs salaires ne leur permettent pas de faire des folies et dès qu'ils ont le moindre argent, ils le dépensent en achat de vêtements anglais très chers...

”

English translation of the above:

“

"Jérôme and Sylvie are a middle class couple living in Paris. They are both psychosociologists, which is to say that they are charged with organizing surveys on products concerning the population. They are not interested in their profession and dream of a grandiose life, full of riches and beautiful things. But their salaries do not permit them to indulge whims, and since they have very little money, they spend it buying very expensive English clothes...

”