The purpose of this book is to elucidate and explain the themes, images and style of the poetry of Saint-John Perse through a critical study of the letters, speeches, testimonials, tributes and articles of the poet-diplomat. The substance of these prose works treats Perse's preoccupation with the creative process in several contexts - individual, social, philosophical, literary, cultural and political. The prose works examined include the «Lettres de Jeunesse», the «Lettres d'Asie», the «Lettres d'Exil», the speeches entitled «Poésie» and «Pour Dante», several of the «Témoignages Littéraires» and «Hommages», as well as some of the poet's critical articles on music.
