The Diving-bell and the Butterfly.

London: HarperPerennial, 2004. Reprint ed.. Paperback trade, very good condition, pages lightly toned, minor edgewear. 139 pp. In 1995, Jean-Dominique Bauby, the 43-year-old editor of French Elle, suffered a massive stroke that left him permanently paralyzed, a victim of 'locked in syndrome’. Once known for his gregariousness and wit, he found himself imprisoned in an inert body, able to communicate only by blinking his left eye. The miracle is that in doing so he was able to compose this stunningly eloquent memoir. In a voice that is by turns wistful and mischievous, angry and sardonic, Bauby gives us a celebration of the liberating power of consciousness. This triumphant book lets us witness an indomitable spirit and share in the pure joy of its own survival. (Front cover states: Now a major film. Plus 18-page postscript about the author, the book and the film.).