Les Racines du ciel

This printing corrects several spelling and stylistic errors, from a resetting dated “November 1956.” It is fair to say the original text had not really been proofread: an abnormal number of misprints remained, to the delight of hostile critics, who condemned its clumsiness and stylistic lapses. Several newspapers indeed echoed rumors that Gary’s style was deplorable: “It does seem that Gary let a number of errors slip into his manuscript (…) Gary asked for the proofs to be reread ‘by a seasoned grammarian.’ This correction perhaps never took place, which would explain the extent of the faults found in the first edition.” (Larat, II, note p. 52, after a letter from Romain Gary dated 5 October 1956, preserved in the Gallimard Archives).

The December reprints (of the 3rd, then the 7th) improved matters somewhat, just as Gary, granted a short leave by the Quai d’Orsay, was able to return to Paris. Gallimard organized interviews and meetings, including an appearance on Lecture pour tous, in which Gary returned to this subject.