What is Surrealism?

Andre Breton (1986-1966) was the founder and major theorist of the surrealist movement, one of the most influential currents of twentieth-century art and criticism.

This compelation of Breton's writings gives a compact survey of his views and the perspectives of international surrealism as they have developed through more than half a century, and as they serve to guide the groups and individuals who, in dozens of countries, have taken up surrealism as a cause.

About half the selections here are published in English for the first time; others are reprinted from scarce out-of-print periodicals.