COCTEAU JeanLivre Rare Book
Cocteau, Jean and Maurois, AndreBiblio.com
Discours de Réception de M. Jean Cocteau a L'Académie Française et Réponse de M. André Maurois
1955JCAM001Paris: Gallimard 1955 1955 First edition review copy with "S P" Service de Presse punched into rear wrapper. Signed and inscribed by Cocteau in the year of publication 1955 on half-title page. Additionally signed by Maurois. Publisher's white wrappers printed in black and red. Near fine with light toning to spine and edges of wrappers. With a yellow Gallimard promotional slip for the book laid in. Overall a tight and clean copy. This volume contains speeches by Cocteau and Maurois regarding Cocteau's election to the French Academy. The Academy was founded by Cardinal Richelieu in 1634 to preserve and protect the French language. It is highly prestigious with only 40 members who are called "les immortales" and often hold their titles for life. Cocteau succeeded French writer Jérôme Tharaud who died in 1953. A particularly lyrical New York Times article announcing Cocteau's election reads: "M. Cocteau poet and film producer will be clad in a green-faced uniform with a two-corner hat hiding his famous halo of thick whitening hair. As his urbane voice sprinkles witticisms on the 'immortals' his hand will be resting on a sword made by Cartier and decorated with an emerald a gift." Jean Cocteau 1889 - 1963 was a French author artist and filmmaker whose most famous works include the novel Les Enfants Terrible 1929 the play La Machine Infernale 1934 and the ballet Parade 1917 for which Cocteau collaborated with Picasso Erik Satie and other notable artists. A writer for the National Observer declared that "of the artistic generation whose daring gave birth to Twentieth Century Art Cocteau came closest to being a Renaissance man." André Maurois 1885 - 1967 was a French novelist and biographer who wrote acclaimed biographies on Percy Bysshe Shelley Lord Byron Victor Hugo Marcel Proust and others. In his biographies he "combined documentary erudition and imagination to unfold the psychological development of his subjects" Jewish Virtual Library. . Signed. 1st Edition. Original Wraps. Near Fine. Paris: Gallimard, 1955 paperback
B & B Rare Books, Ltd., ABAA · États-Unis500,00 $US≈ 423,05 €
