Joyce Mansour,née Joyce Patricia Adès, (25 July 1928 – 27 August 1986), was an Egyptian-French author, notable as asurrealist poet. She became the best known surrealist female poet, author of 16 books of poetry, as well as a number of important prose and theatre pieces.
Mansour was born in Bowden in England, to aSyrian-Jewish family originally fromAleppo,[1][2] and lived inCheshire for a month. During her youth, Mansour excelled as a runner and a high jumper. She also competed in equestrian competitions.[3] before her parents moved the family toCairo, Egypt.[3]
Mansour first came in contact with Parisiansurrealism while still living in Cairo where she met surrealistGeorges Henein. She moved to Paris in 1953, at the age of 25.[3] In 1947, her first marriage at the age of 19 ended after six months when her husband died. Her second marriage was to Samir Mansour in 1949 and they divided their time between Cairo and Paris. Mansour began to write in French.They befriended the french writer and poetAndré Breton, the co-founder, leader, and principal theorist ofsurrealism.
Mansour’s first published collection of poems, titled:Cris, was published in Paris in 1953 byPierre Seghers.[5] This collection of work references male and femaleanatomy in explicit language that was unusual for the time.[3] Religious language can also be found. However, it is inverted, replacing what would be Christ with the lover.[6] References of Egyptian mythology are also present inCris. Mansour references the White Goddess as well asHathor.[5]
In 1954, Joyce Mansour became involved with thesurrealist movement afterJean-Louise Bédouin wrote a review praisingCris inMédium: Communication surréaliste that May.[5] Joyce Mansour actively participated in the second wave of surrealism in Paris. Her apartment was a popular meeting place for members of the surrealist group.L'exécution du testament du Marquis de Sade, the performance piece byJean Benoît took place in Mansour’s apartment.[7]
Mohsen L Belasy , ''Joyce Mansour the Tuberose Baby Girl. Sulfur Editions, 27 Aug. 2025.ISBN979-8232326753
Marie-Claire Barnet,La Femme cent sexes ou les genres communicants.Deharme, Mansour,Prassinos, Peter Lang, 1998
Jean-Louis Bédouin,Anthologie de la poésie surréaliste, Éd. Pierre Seghers, Paris, 1983, p. 285
Adam Biro & René Passeron,Dictionnaire général du surréalisme et de ses environs, co-édition Office du livre, Fribourg (Suisse) et Presses universitaires de France, Paris, 1982
Stéphanie Caron,Réinventer le lyrisme. Le surréalisme de Joyce Mansour, Droz, Genève 2007.ISBN978-2-600-01090-0
Stéphanie Caron, « De la création comme (re)commencement. Petit aperçu sur la genèse des récits de Joyce Mansour : le cas "Napoléon" », inPleine Marge n° 37, mai 2003
