Helene Bessette (1918-2000) was an iconic figure of the French avant-garde, the founder of the "poetic novel", the favorite of Raymond Queneau, Nathalie Sarrot, Simone de Beauvoir and Andre Malraux. Bessette's appearance in the literary arena of the mid-20th century created a real sensation, she rightfully gained fame as the "French Joyce." Marguerite Duras, who was once asked which of the modern writers should be read, said: "Helene Bessette, no one else!""Twenty Minutes of Silence" is one of Bessette's main novels. This is an avant-garde text, both poetic and prosaic, in which the stormy action is played out only in the imagination of the narrator. Plus, it's a detective story with black humor. It's also a deception novel, as the complicated investigation turns out to be the story of... an ordinary candle.