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Abstract: The article presents most important literary-aesthetical principles of the Swiss writer Paul Nizon: his views on the position of an artist in society, his thoughts about the creative search of a writer in Switzerland. It highlights some features of the poetic style of the author: the autobiographical background of his creative work and his peculiar approach to the stages and ways of the creative process. The following themes and motives in his novels are defined: escape as a result of being an alien, permanent movement, absence of a final aim, solitude, search for a different life and hesitation. Language is of great importance for Nizon not only in his creative work, but also in creation of life itself as a “means of transportation” in it. So “to give life” by means of language is his creed and poetical program, which is disclosed in his novel Canto. A very important thing about Nizon’s literary work is its musical nature. For the author the process of writing a fiction text is like a musical improvisation with its specific rhythm, melody, tempo, and dynamics. The creative work of P. Nizon, his unique style of writing provides a lot of possibilities for linguistic and literary studies.