A concise compendium of the lives and work of the 101 most significant Surrealists by one of
the last surviving members of the movement bestselling author and artist Desmond Morris who
knew several of the key participants personally. 2024 marks the centenary of Surrealism
one of the most influential artistic movements of the modern era. In 1924 André Breton wrote
the Surrealist Manifesto a call to arms which established Surrealism as a literary and
artistic movement. Rather than attempting to analyse the work of the Surrealists bestselling
author and Surrealist artist Desmond Morris focuses on them as remarkable individuals. What
were their personalities their predilections their character strengths and flaws? Did they
enjoy a social life or were they loners? Were they bold eccentrics or timid recluses?
Featuring 101 artists from the famous - Duchamp Dali Magritte Miro Carrington Kahlo
Picabia Ernst and others - to the neglected - Mesens Rimmington Sage Fini Bellmer
Colquhoun and Gonzalez - this book draws on the author's personal knowledge of the Surrealists
capturing in concise form their life histories idiosyncrasies and often-complex love lives.
Surrealism was both spectacular and international shaped by the darkest most irrational
workings of the unconscious. Shocking witty and always entertaining Morris's potted summaries
and punchy anecdotes illuminate striking variations in artistic approach to the Surrealist
philosophy both in the artists' works and lives. A complement to Morris's earlier
biographical volumes 101 Surrealists encapsulates each artist in new and abridged texts that
convey with immediacy the impact and significance of each of the 101 artists featured.
