Journey to the End of the Night
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Journey to the End of the Night (Voyage au bout de la nuit, 1932) is the first novel of Louis-Ferdinand Céline. This semi-autobiographical work follows antihero Bardamu through his involvement in World War I, colonial Africa, postwar America, and ultimately a return to his native France, where he sets up a medical practice. The only relationships he maintains are with prostitutes, and with another Frenchman, Léon Robinson, whose experiences parallel those of Bardamu.
It is a novel of savage, exultant misanthropy, full of cynical humour and the blackest pessimism in regard to humanity.
Céline's unusual writing style in Journey mirrors conversational speech. He makes extensive use of ellipsis, and also common vulgar vernacular.
Kurt Vonnegut cited Journey as one of his influences in Palm Sunday, and Bardamu's misadventures appear to have influenced Joseph Heller's Catch-22.
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