La Vie devant soi
Paris, Mercure de France, (August 21) 1975.
1 vol. (155 x 225 mm) of 269 pp. and [1] f. Blue morocco, smooth spine, gilt title, date gilt at foot, original wrappers and spine preserved (binding signed by Patrice Goy).
First edition (first printing).
Signed presentation inscription: “pour M. Monsieur Max-Pol Fouchet, que j'ai toujours aimé beaucoup. Très cordial hommage d'Emile Ajar,” in the hand of Paul Pavlovitch, Romain Gary's nephew.
Signed presentation inscription: “pour M. Monsieur Max-Pol Fouchet, que j'ai toujours aimé beaucoup. Très cordial hommage d'Emile Ajar,” in the hand of Paul Pavlovitch, Romain Gary's nephew.
In 1975, Romain Gary created Émile Ajar, an identity he had his nephew assume publicly. The success was immense: La Vie devant soi was printed in 400,000 copies immediately after being awarded the Prix Goncourt, making Gary the only French writer to win the prize twice, having already received it for Les Racines du ciel in 1956.
In Vie et mort d’Émile Ajar, published shortly after his suicide on 2 December 1980, Gary revealed the truth behind the Ajar affair, closing his literary testament with the words: “Je me suis bien amusé. Au revoir et merci.”
Inscriptions by Ajar-Pavlovitch in La Vie devant soi are extremely rare, particularly in the first printing.
A very fine copy.
#28702
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