Puckish and playful, Georges Perec infused avant-garde and experimental fiction with a wit and wonder that belied the serious concerns and concepts that underpinned it. A prominent member of the OuLiPo, and an abiding influence on fiction writers today, Perec used formal constraints to dazzling effect in such works as "A Void" a murder mystery that contains nary an e and "Life A User s Manual," in which an apartment building, systematically canvassed, unfolds secrets and, ultimately offers a reflection on creation, destruction, and the devotion to art. Before embarking on these experiments, however, Perec tried his hand at a relatively straightforward novel, "Portrait of a Man." His first book, it was rejected by publishers when he submitted it in 1960, after which he filed it away. Decades after Perec s death, David Bellos discovered the manuscript, and through his translation we have a chance to enjoy it in English for the first time. What fans will find here is a thriller that combines themes that would remain prominent in Perec s later work, such as art forgery, authenticity, and murder, as well as craftsman Gaspard Winckler, who whose namesakes play major roles in "Life A User s Manual" and "W or The Memory of Childhood." Engaging and entertaining on its own merits, and gaining additional interest when set in the context of Perec s career, "Portrait of a Man" is sure to charm the many fans of this postmodern master.".