Should you find yourself strolling along the coastal heights of Douarnenez, a
Brittany town near the westernmost point of continental France, you would do
well to look out for a signpost marked, "Georges Perros (1923–1978) 'Dazzled by
the sea.'" Perros, who famously made that remark and settled there in 1959, was
initially an actor but is now best known for his literary output, which was
marked by stylistic freshness and frank criticism. Perros lived anonymously in
the fishing port of Douarnenez, scraping by as a freelance author and manuscript
reader who taught and published a few books, but mostly corresponded with fellow
writers or rode his motorcycle