humument.

i recently read A Humument. although i think read may not really be the best word to use. reading this book is as much a visual experience as looking at a painting. because you are looking at paintings. and words.

i think visual art and literature are often thought of too separately. written language is visual. in principle, any story that is written down becomes a visual experience just by default. this book seems to break down the boundaries that have been imposed between literature and visual art. the author has taken a victorian novel and created a story within the story. most of the original words have been covered up by paint and what's left exposed creates a brand new narrative. it's not exactly linear, but it is interesting.

i would recommend this book to anyone who is both interested in visual art and literature. particularly if you happen to think that those two things aren't really that different. and even if you do think they are that different, this book might just make you question that distinction.