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SOLD

Réf : 82107

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Marcel PROUST

A la recherche du temps perdu

Grasset & Nrf, Paris 1913-1927, 12x19cm pour le premier volume & 13x19,5cm pour le second & 14,5x19,5cm pour les suivants, 13 volumes brochés.

Grasset & Nrf, Paris 1913-1927, 12 x 19cm for the first volume & 13 x 19.5cm for the second & 14.5 x 19.5cm for the remaining, 13 volumes in original wrappers.

First edition including all the features of the first issue for Du Côté de chez Swann (error with Grasset, first board with the date 1913, missing contents table, publisher's catalogue in-fine). First edition on ordinary paper, one of the very rare first without mention copies for A l'ombre des jeunes filles en fleurs, of which there were only around 500 copies printed. First numbered editions on pur fil, only deluxe copies after the reimposed for the following volumes.
Complete collection of In Search of Lost Time with two important and precious autograph inscriptions signed by Marcel Proust to Lucien Descaves, founding member of the Académie Goncourt:
- “à monsieur Lucien Descaves. / Respectueux hommage de l'auteur. / Marcel Proust” “to Monseiur Lucien Descaves. / Respectful tribute from the author. / Marcel Proust” on Le Côté de Guermantes II – Sodome et Gomorrhe I.
- “à monsieur Lucien Descaves. / Admiratif hommage. / Marcel Proust ” “to Monsieur Lucien Descaves. / Admiring tribute. / Marcel Proust” on Sodome et Gomorrhe II-1.

When in 1919, A l'ombre des jeunes filles en fleurs wins the Prize despite the obstacles of fortune and Proust's age, Lucien Descaves disputes the award, himself preferring Les Croix de bois by Dorgelès. In a letter to the Abbé Mugnier, Proust mentions this animosity: “Je regrette que vous ayez appris [l'attribution du Goncourt] par Monsieur Descaves car il a du accompagner cette bien petite nouvelle de commentaires désobligeants. Il a fait en effet campagne contre moi et annoncé le résultat dans ces termes : "M. Proust a le prix, M. Dorgelès l'originalité du talent et la jeunesse. On ne peut pas tout avoir.” “I consider it regrettable that you learned [of the awarding of the Goncourt] from Monseiur Descaves because he must have accompanied this very small piece of news with derogatory remarks. Indeed, he has made a campaign against me and announced the result in these terms: “M. Proust has the prize, M. Dorgelès the originality of talent and youth. We cannot have it all.” Marcel Proust adds: “Ne croyez pas que j'aie la moindre amertume contre Monsieur Descaves. Ceux qui n'aiment pas mes livres ont la même opinion que moi.” “Do not think that I have the slightest bitterness against Monsieur Descaves. Those who do not like my books have the same opinion as me.” (XVIII, 333)
The two copies of Côté de Guermantes and Sodome that Proust addresses to his critic evidence the honesty of this statement and the respect that he has for the writer despite their difference of opinion.
For his part, “l'Ours” “the Bear”, as Lucien Descaves called himself, took care of his copies, no doubt aware of the importance of this founding novel of modern literature, but it is noted that his reading of Sodome seems to stop at page 153 after which the notebooks are no longer cut.
In his study of Proust and the Goncourt, Luc Fraysse highlights that “ l'attribution du Prix Goncourt à Proust en 1919, pour A l'ombre des jeunes filles en fleurs, constitue un événement littéraire majeur dans l'histoire du XX^ème siècle. [...] Sommet inégalé dans la vie de l'Académie Goncourt [...] [et] tournant décisif et définitif dans l'évolution littéraire [de Proust qui] passe sans transition d'une relative obscurité à la gloire mondiale. C'est le prix Goncourt qui a fait apercevoir à un grand nombre l'ampleur et l'importance de l'œuvre de Proust.” “the awarding of the Goncourt Prize to Proust in 1919, for A l'ombre des jeunes filles en fleurs, is a major literary event in the history of the 20^th century. [...] An unrivalled peak in the life of the Académie Goncourt [...] [and] a decisive and definitive turn in the evolution of [Proust's] literature [which] passes without transition from relative darkness to world glory. It is the Goncourt prize which made many people realise the scope and importance of Proust's work.”
Outstanding complete set of A la recherche du temps perdu as published with two precious presentation copies signed by Marcel Proust to Lucien Descaves.
 

France Culture : Pourquoi la

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