The Poetics of Space

Since its first publication in English in 1964, French philosopher Gaston Bachelard's Poetics of Space remains one of the most appealing and lyrical explorations of home. Bachelard takes us on a journey, from cellar to attic, to show how our perceptions of houses and other shelters shape our thoughts, memories, and dreams. "A magical book. . . . The Poetics of Space is a prism through which all worlds from literary creation to housework to aesthetics to carpentry take on enhanced-and enchanted-significances. Every reader of it will never see ordinary spaces in ordinary ways. Instead the reader will see with the soul of the eye, the glint of Gaston Bachelard." -from the new foreword by John R. Stilgoe Contents......Page 5 Foreword to the 1994 Edition by John R. Stilgoe......Page 6 Foreword to the 1964 Edition by Etienne Gilson......Page 10 I......Page 14 II......Page 17 III......Page 21 IV......Page 23 V......Page 26 VI......Page 28 VII......Page 31 VIII......Page 33 IX......Page 34 I......Page 39 II......Page 44 III......Page 46 IV......Page 48 V......Page 53 VI......Page 65 I......Page 74 II......Page 77 III......Page 78 IV......Page 79 V......Page 84 VI......Page 87 VII......Page 92 VIII......Page 97 IX......Page 103 X......Page 108 I......Page 110 II......Page 111 III......Page 112 IV......Page 114 V......Page 117 VI......Page 119 VII......Page 121 I......Page 126 III......Page 128 IV......Page 132 V......Page 134 VI......Page 135 VII......Page 136 VIII......Page 138 I......Page 141 III......Page 143 IV......Page 146 V......Page 148 VI......Page 151 VII......Page 154 VIII......Page 156 IX......Page 158 X......Page 161 XI......Page 163 XII......Page 168 XIII......Page 169 I......Page 172 II......Page 174 III......Page 175 IV......Page 179 V......Page 180 I......Page 184 II......Page 187 III......Page 189 IV......Page 192 V......Page 195 VI......Page 199 VII......Page 203 VIII......Page 205 IX......Page 208 X......Page 209 XII......Page 216 I......Page 219 II......Page 221 III......Page 225 IV......Page 226 V......Page 234 VI......Page 235 VII......Page 239 VIII......Page 244 I......Page 247 II......Page 249 III......Page 252 IV......Page 257 V......Page 258 VI......Page 261 I......Page 268 II......Page 270 III......Page 272 IV......Page 273 V......Page 275 Contents 5 Foreword to the 1994 Edition by John R. Stilgoe 6 Foreword to the 1964 Edition by Etienne Gilson 10 Introduction 14 I 14 II 17 III 21 IV 23 V 26 VI 28 VII 31 VIII 33 IX 34 1. The House. From Cellar to Garret. The Significance of the Hut 39 I 39 II 44 III 46 IV 48 V 53 VI 65 2. House and Universe 74 I 74 II 77 III 78 IV 79 V 84 VI 87 VII 92 VIII 97 IX 103 X 108 3. Drawers, Chests and Wardrobes 110 I 110 II 111 III 112 IV 114 V 117 VI 119 VII 121 4. Nests 126 I 126 II 128 III 128 IV 132 V 134 VI 135 VII 136 VIII 138 5. Shells 141 I 141 II 143 III 143 IV 146 V 148 VI 151 VII 154 VIII 156 IX 158 X 161 XI 163 XII 168 XIII 169 6. Corners 172 I 172 II 174 III 175 IV 179 V 180 7. Miniature 184 I 184 II 187 III 189 IV 192 V 195 VI 199 VII 203 VIII 205 IX 208 X 209 XI 216 XII 216 8. Intimate Immensity 219 I 219 II 221 III 225 IV 226 V 234 VI 235 VII 239 VIII 244 9. The Dialectics of Outside and Inside 247 I 247 II 249 III 252 IV 257 V 258 VI 261 10. The Phenomenology of Roundness 268 I 268 II 270 III 272 IV 273 V 275 Presents A Republication Of The French Text, Originally Published In 1964, In Which The Author Provides A Philosophical Exploration Of The Home And Its Meaning To Inhabitants. The House. From Cellar To Garret. The Significance Of The Hut -- House And Universe -- Drawers, Chests And Wardrobes -- Nests -- Shells -- Corners -- Miniature -- Intimate Immensity -- The Dialectics Of Outside And Inside -- The Phenomenology Of Roundness. Gaston Bachelard ; Translated From The French By Maria Jolas ; With A New Foreword By John R. Stilgoe. Originally Published: New York : Orion Press, 1964. Includes Bibliographical References. This is a deep, magical, densely captivating book about space, our homes, how we live in them, and how dwellings and space affect us; it is as much a book of philosophy as a work of serious literature. It requires careful, preferably leisurely reading, with the possibility of moments to pause and digest and re-read the words. It will change the way you look at your home and your life, providing a deeper, more insightful relationship with the spaces you occupy "Thirty years since its first publication in English, French philosopher Gaston Bachelard's The Poetics of Space one of the most appealing and lyrical explorations of home. Bachelard takes us on a journey, from cellar to attic, to show how our perceptions of houses and other shelters shape our thoughts, memories, and dreams"--Back cover This book is another of the French philosopher's explorations into the meaning and being of art.