Sophie Calle’s “On the Hunt”
My favorite excerpts:
“Gentleman of leisure seeks lady of means. Would ignore stain if dowry is good.”
“Neurasthenics, neurotics, illiterates, egoists, antimilitarists need not apply.”
“Queen of a pretty seaside resort, 18 years old, pleasant face, asks for kind little husband to make a happy man.”
“Sociable without being a socialite, sentimental yet modern, looking for oblivion in marriage.”
“Preferring kindness to beauty…Personal fortune not needed, only need to be healthy and sober.”
“Looking for a brave heart, oval face, good teeth, beardless, sober, fortune for two. Noble, politician, pianist.”
“Charming little blonde doll, 32, dreamer, searching land and sea for a spouse from a dream, my husband yet unseen, my celestial beam!”
“Preference for a vegetarian spiritualist.”
“Preference for aristocracy.”
“Old, poor, ugly, yet whoever will marry me will not be disappointed.”
“Would marry a weary person who is really cultured. Urgent.”
“Prince, middle-aged, would marry shepherdess even without flock.”
“Intelligent but not intellectual.”
“Beauty, region, fortune not important, as long as kind.”
“SOS final shipwreck of the heart.”
“The most radiant contemplative epicurean, 59, charming flaws, suddenly cannot bear the weight of her unused tenderness and is starting to get out of control.”
“I dream of fervent tenderness, protection, thoughtfulness, mutual adoration.”
“Profession doesn’t matter in view of the current climate.”
“Pretty West Indian swallow, 36, 3 chicks, is looking for metropolitan bird to fill the gap in their nest.”
“Daft person still believing in love, already half a century…Sentimental to excess, sensual but cerebral, feminine but futile, hopes for a miracle.”
“Would like to meet not-too-ugly Mr. to share Bach, Van Gogh, Jean Daniel, and steak au poivre.”
“Sad clown, oddball, would take off red nose and pajamas for good run with superb romantic flower. Materialistic nags, don’t bother.”
“Whipping lover, like Father Flog, dreams of a sensual cerebral and rebellious accomplice for whom affectionate welts are an extreme homage and able to see in her partner’s talent erotic attributes that offer a little bit of madness.”
“I avoid amazons and proud bachelorettes.”
“You are full of wit, with a big house to fix up.”
“Which diamond of great purity would share a padded case with a solitaire 52 carats? Fakes need not apply.”
“Looking for the LAST man of her life to block off melancholy, anesthetize memories, conjugate verb to love.”