Louis-Ferdinand C line was one of the most innovative novelists of the twentieth century, and his influence both in his native France and beyond remains huge. This book sheds light on C line's groundbreaking novels, which drew extensively on his complex life: he rose from humble beginnings to worldwide literary fame, then dramatically fell from grace only to return, belatedly, to the limelight. C line's subversive writing remains fresh and urgent today, despite his controversial political views and inflammatory pamphlets that threatened to ruin his reputation. The first English-language biography of C line in more than two decades, this book explores new material and reminds us why the author belongs in the pantheon of modern greats.