Conversations with Professor Y

So begins the imaginary interview that comprises this novel. ProfessorY, the interviewing academic, asks questions that allow Céline, acharacter in his own book, the chance to rail against convention anddefend his idiosyncratic methods. In the course of their outrageousinterplay, Céline comes closer to defining and justifying his poeticsthan in any of his other novels. But this is more than just aninterview. As the book moves forward, Professor Y reveals his realidentity and the characters travel through the streets of Paris toward abizarre climax that parodies the author, the critic, and, most of all,the establishment.