Un homme se penche sur son passé
One of the copies printed on blue paper, on the occasion of the “soirée littéraire Flammarion” of December 28, 1928.
Signed presentation inscription: “À mademoiselle Régis Lévi, que j'aimerais bien connaître et qui fait de si bons articles. Son lecteur, Constantin-Meyer.”
Born in Bourbonne-les-Bains but long settled in Canada, Maurice Constantin-Weyer (1881–1964) drew on his North American experience to write an expansive and vigorous novel, steeped in Canadian memories and reflections on exile, adventure and memory. Following the Finland journey that had earned him acclaim the previous year, it seems that — at least temporarily — he had set aside war narratives and regionally rooted novels. The prize also brought recognition to Éditions Rieder, which received its first major literary award with this book.
A rare copy of the special printing on blue paper, published to celebrate the prize on the occasion of the “soirée littéraire Flammarion” of December 1928. This ephemeral, commemorative issue illustrates perfectly how publishers, as early as the interwar period, could use the Prix Goncourt as a tool for prestige and promotion.
This title was the first to benefit from such a special “post-Goncourt” printing, a practice later developed by Gallimard and Grasset with reserved deluxe printings issued after the announcement of the winner.
Publisher’s insert preserved.
From the “Prix Goncourt” library of Gérard Pouguet, with bookplate.