GENERAL PIESC or the case of the forgotten mission

London: Gaberbocchus Press, 1976. Printed by Poets' & Painters' Press. A story in which the General finds happiness only when he has forgotten his mission. Stefan Themerson's General Piesc is an allegorical novella full of humor, irony, and sarcasm - a well-written and highly entertaining story. Although he is known for his philosophical and controversial works Mr. Themerson's book is not problematical or demanding in any way neither stylistically nor intellectually. In less than fifty pages the author succeeds in narrating - but not explaining - a strange incident that happens to a retired Polish general who lives in London alone after his wife had run away with another man. The story begins with General Piesc winning a large sum of money (£ 129,740) in the pools. Instead of enjoying life as people expected him to, he decides to accomplish a mission which he had been planning for twenty-five years. After he equips himself with a new mackintosh 'with exceptionally large pockets' and a 'gun loaded with one solitary bullet', he begins with the execution of his assignment. On his way to a certain but undisclosed destination, 'something illogical' happens in his head which makes him forget everything about his important project. The remainder of the booklet deals with the General's search for his original plan and describes the last moments of his life - a few adventurous and strange episodes from his picaresque life are also narrated either by his illegitimate daughter, or by his girl friend. 54 pag.. 1st edition. Paperback. Good copy.. 21cmx13,5cm.