Le Journal d’une femme de chambre

The Journal is dedicated to Jules Huret, who had published in his Enquête sur l’évolution littéraire (1891) an account of a conversation he had with Octave Mirbeau some time before the novel’s serialization. Ten years later, the writer presented him with a copy on China paper of the published novel, “a violent indictment of the ills afflicting modern society, combining satire of domestic mores with a rather troubling sensuality” (Dictionnaire des Œuvres, III, 854).

A first version of Le Journal d’une femme de chambre had appeared as a serial in L’Écho de Paris from 20 October 1891 to 26 April 1892. A second, heavily revised version appeared in the Revue blanche during the winter of 1899–1900; it was this version that formed the basis of the book edition published by Charpentier-Fasquelle in July 1900.

The novel has been adapted for the cinema four times — including Buñuel’s famous adaptation — and for the stage several dozen times, in France and abroad.

A few copies were printed on jonquille-yellow paper, at least two of which are known (the Pierre Bergé copy, without provenance, and the Sicklès-Heilbronn copy, for Jean Richepin). Mirbeau kept copies on China paper for himself and his wife. These were followed by 30 copies on Japanese paper, then 200 on Arches paper, all réimposé.

From the library of Raoul Simonson, with bookplate.

A very fine copy.