Anthony Marais

Anthony Marais (born 1966, Hollywood, California) is an American writer.

In 1983 Marais co-founded The Squids and during the late eighties moved to Paris, France where he studied language and art history. He studied anthropology at UC Berkeley and archaeology at Simon Fraser University in Canada, where he did field work on various Pacific islands. Marais has lived in Germany since 1995. He wears glasses.

"The Xenophobe’s Guide to the Californians" is one of a popular series of books dealing with the beliefs and foibles of nations. In it, Marais argues that the defining element of Californians is a collective sense of delusion – that is, a false belief that they are rooted in this once remote corner of North America.

In his novel, "The Cure", a Californian fleeing from problems in university finds himself in Wiesbaden, Germany, a picturesque spa town near the Rhine River. Here the protagonist develops an obsession with the town’s healing springs leading to a surreal journey into the occult.

"Plateau", a screenplay co-written with Jarek Marszewski, is the story of a twelve-year-old girl who finds the body of a dying man along the roadside near her small town. Her desire to nurture him grows into obsession and only the local drunk comes to her rescue.

"Delusionism" is a collection of essays which take an irreverent look at life philosophy – in particular, the nature/nurture debate and art theory. Marais emphasizes the importance of the group in survival, claims that culture is born of delusion, and advocates a return to romanticism in art.

Publications

cite book
last = Marais
first = Anthony
year = 2000
title = The Xenophobe's Guide to the Californians
publisher = Oval Books
location = London
id = 1902825209

cite book
last = Marais
first = Anthony
year = 2006
title = The Cure
publisher = Balneum Books
location = Newport Beach, California
id = 097747920X

cite book
last = Marais
first = Anthony
year = 2007
title = Plateau
publisher = Balneum Books
location = Newport Beach, California
id = 9780977479245

cite book
last = Marais
first = Anthony
year = 2008
title = Delusionism
publisher = Balneum Books
location = Newport Beach, California
id = 9780977479214

External links

* [http://www.anthonymarais.com Anthony Marais' web site]