French Language or translation from or about the French

The Works of Sir Thomas Malory- 3 Volumes Complete – edited Eugene Vinaver – First Edition Oxford 1947.

Large first edition set published by the Clarendon Press, Oxford in 1947.

Thick royal octavo, 1,742 pages overall, original black cloth covered bindings, impressed design to front, gilt titles to spine, original dust jackets a little tattered but rarely there. Obvious odeur de bibliotheque – forgive them for their reverence. The odd illustration such as a page from the Winchester manuscript (see below).

Russian born Eugene Vinaver was at the time Professor of French Language and Literature at Manchester university. He is best know for this voluminous work which takes its place as the best study on Malory and the Authurian Legends. In 1928 Vinaver founded the Arthurian Society which became the Society for the Study of Medieval Languages. TE Lawrence had an interest before his untimely death.

The Vivaner Arthur is based on the 15th century Winchester Manuscript which was discovered in the Fellows’ Library at Winchester in 1934 – what other prizes must these old English libraries still hold? Vivaner provides an enlightening analysis of the differences with the first Caxton printed work.

A summary of the contents …

Volume I – after ix Preface – introduction including the Knight-Prisoner; the Story of the Book; the Writer’s Progress and the Method of Editing. Caxton’s Preface followed by the works …

The Tale of King Arthur; the Tale of the Noble King Arthur that was Emperor Himself through Dignity of His Hands; the Noble Tale of Sir Launcelot du Lake; the Tale of Sir Gareth of Orkeney that was called Bewmaynes; The Book of Sir Tristram de Lyones.

Vol II – The Book of Sir Tristram de Lyones (cont); the Tale of the Sankgreal Briefly Drawn out of French, which is a Tale Chronicled for One of the Truest and One of the Holiest That Is in This World.

Vol III – the Book of Sir Launcelot and Queen Guinevere; The Most Piteous Tale of the Morte Arthur Saunz Gwerdon; Commentary on various Tales,; Bibliography; Glossary and Index etc.

Thomas Malory the Full Works provided and explained … a Magnificent Effort.

$190.00

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A Moveable Feast – Ernest Hemingway True First Edition -1964 – Predates American Edition by one day

First edition published by Jonathan Cape, London in 1964. Octavo, 192 pages with the stunning wrap around dust jacket designed by Hans Tisdall. The font Tisdall invented for this purpose carries his name.

Very good condition with minor mark to front of jacket, otherwise very clean and no dust jacket nibbles. Terrific internally.

Written by Hemingway in his final days before he took his life so tragically. The draft was in his bedroom and published posthumously.

Tells of Hemingway’s early years in Paris with his young bride (1921-1926) and the people (what people) he associated with … Gertrude Stein, Ezra Pound, Wyndham Lewis, James Joyce, Scott Fitzgerald … do we need to go on?

“If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast”.

Scarce Collectable delightful Hemingway – First Edition

$160.00

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Sarah Bernhardt – Francoise Sagan – First UK Edition

The late 19th century stage legend – has anyone really matched the talent and reputation of Bernhardt. Her talents as a sculptor and painter underestimated.

Here we have a real twist a fictionalised biography / autobiography through letter exchanges between the author and Sarah – long after the latter’s death. The author, a sensational writer who had already had great success with the provocative “Bonjour Tristesse”.

A fist UK translation published by Macmillan in 1989. Octavo, 232 pages with illustrations from period photographs. Good condition albeit the pages toasted a bit as common with the issue.

Exotic treatment of Bernhardt’s Life

$25.00

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Maigret in Society – George Simenon

Published by the Thriller Book Club, Charing Cross, London in collaboration with and in the same year as the Hamish Hamilton first.

Octavo, 160 pages, very good condition.

The 78-year-old Comte Armand de Saint-Hilaire is found dead. A former Ambassador to Rome. Washington and London. All his acquaintances are elderly and Maigret is given little to work on other than the discovery of letter which suggest a long-standing love for Princess de V_____. Strange goings on are exposed.

Maigret not out of his depth in High Society.

$35.00

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Maigret’s Pickpocket and Maigret and the Nahour Case– Georges Simenon

Translated from the French another double helping of Maigret published by the Companion Book Club in 1968. A first of type.

Octavo, 288 pages in very good condition.

Maigret has his wallet stolen on a bus .. the young offender telephone Maigret and a murder enquiry ensues. In Nahour a gambler is murdered and his wife, who has fled with her lover, is suspected.

Two different Maigret cases but with murder at the heart of each.

$35.00

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Maigret – Hesitates and Takes the Waters – Georges Simenon

Two classic short stories by Simenon in Paris and also out in the Vichy countryside – superb

First edition in this form published by The Companion Book Club in 1971 the individual editions being published in 1969 and 1970.

Octavo, 288 pages, page edges and end papers bright red. A very clean copy.

Maigret unsurpassed – a double helping.

$35.00

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The Works of Sir Thomas Malory- 3 Volumes Complete – edited Eugene Vinaver – First Edition Oxford 1947.

A Moveable Feast – Ernest Hemingway True First Edition -1964 – Predates American Edition by one day

Sarah Bernhardt – Francoise Sagan – First UK Edition

Maigret in Society – George Simenon

Maigret’s Pickpocket and Maigret and the Nahour Case– Georges Simenon

Maigret – Hesitates and Takes the Waters – Georges Simenon

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