Double Game, published by Violette Editions in 1999, was French author Sophie Calle’s first important book published in English, and it received international praise for its idea, text, and extraordinary design. The original edition has been out of print since its release.
The new edition has been published to go along with the 2007 Venice Biennale, a major contemporary art exhibition that takes place once every two years in Venice, Italy. Double Game contains exactly the same content as the original as well as the same design, including the signature ribbon around its middle, but in a smaller hardback format.
Double Game starts with a fictional character named Maria, who originally appeared in Paul Auster’s novel Leviathan. Most of the character’s “works” are based on Calle’s works, which are examined in the first section of the book. The second section follows a series of Calle’s narrative and abstract works in text and images that were adapted by Maria in Leviathan.
The last section involves dialogue from Auster, taking Calle as his subject, and offers “Personal Instructions for SC on How to Improve Life in New York City (Because She Asked…),” called the Gotham Handbook.
