Jason Wilson's 'spiritual biography' of a poet-thinker approaches Paz's poetics through his fertile relationship with Andre Breton, the surrealist leader.

Preface; Introduction, 1a. Octavio Paz and surrealism: attitude versus activity; 1b. The Marquis de Sade, surrealism and Paz's 'El prisonero'; 2. Mentalist poetics, the quest, fiesta and other motifs; 3. The nature myth; 4a. The East; 4b. A reading of Paz's Le Singe grammairien; 4c. A reading of 'Vuelta'; Notes; Bibliography; Index.