In Montparnasse : The Emergence of Surrealism in Paris, from Duchamp to Dali

''Supercharged. Highly colourful . . . they''re all here, the big names of the time - behaving badly, and, at times, quite madly too'' Observer

During the 1920s, in the Parisian neighbourhood of Montparnasse, a unique flowering of avant-garde artistic creativity became the cradle of Dada and Surrealism. In this crowd biography, Sue Roe tells the story - from Duchamp to Dali, via Man Ray and Max Ernst - of the salons and cafes, alliances and feuds, love affairs and scandals, successes and suicides of one of the most important and long-lasting artistic achievements of the twentieth century.

''Describes with plenty of colour how surrealism, from Rene Magritte''s bowler hats to Salvador Dali''s watches, was born and developed'' The Times

''Brings together some of the chief protagonists in one of the 20th century''s most inventive art movements. A vivid read'' Radio Times