Un homme se penche sur son passé
One of the copies printed on blue paper, on the occasion of “la soirée littéraire Flammarion du 28 décembre 1928.”
Inscribed and signed: “à Madame Vrieger, respectueux hommage, Maurice Constantin-Weyer.”
Born in Bourbonne-les-Bains but long settled in Canada, Maurice Constantin-Weyer (1881–1964) drew on his North American experience to write an ample, vigorous novel, steeped in Canadian memories and reflections on exile, adventure and remembrance. Following his prize-winning account of a journey to Finland the previous year, this marked — at least temporarily — a departure from his war narratives and regionally rooted novels. The award also gave prominence to Éditions Rieder, which received its first major literary prize with this book.
A rare copy from the special printing on blue paper, published to celebrate the prize at the “soirée littéraire Flammarion” of December 1928. This ephemeral, commemorative issue perfectly illustrates how, as early as the interwar period, publishers could use the Prix Goncourt as a tool of 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.