Charge d’âme
One of 1,600 copies (including 100 hors commerce) printed on bouffant alfa Calypso paper, this copy no. 275.
With its original publisher's wraparound band.
The twelfth Romain Gary title published in this series, in a smaller printing than the previous ones.
The titles in the “Collection Soleil” were bound in full cloth of various colors (pink, yellow, orange, blue, green…), designed by Massin. The series reprinted backlist titles as well as brand-new releases. It was created in 1957 to compete with the Club du meilleur livre (a subsidiary of Gallimard and Hachette): Claude Gallimard was opposed to the idea of Hachette profiting from the commercial exploitation of his backlist in bound-book form. The print run was limited to a few thousand copies, with this launch slogan: “Le soleil, dit Fontenelle, est l’orgueil des planètes. Les livres de la collection «Soleil», tous au format in-8° soleil, seront l’orgueil de votre bibliothèque.” Thirteen Romain Gary titles had the honor of appearing in the series: Lady L., La Promesse de l’aube, Les Mangeurs d’étoiles, La Danse de Gengis Cohn, La Tête coupable, Adieu Gary Cooper, Chien blanc, Europa, Les Enchanteurs, Au-delà de cette limite…, Clair de femme, Charge d’âme and Les Clowns lyriques.
He was surpassed only by Simone de Beauvoir (14 titles), Jean Giono (16) and Henry de Montherlant (22!).