HEMINGWAY’S WORKS IN FRENCH, A FINE LIMITED EDITION, ILLUSTRATED BY THE LEADING FRENCH ARTISTS OF THE DAY

HEMINGWAY, Ernest. Oeuvres Complètes. Paris: Imprimerie Nationale (André Sauret), (1963-65). Eight volumes. Large quarto, original full russet morocco gilt, top edges gilt, uncut. $1000.

Limited illustrated eight-volume edition of Hemingway’s works translated into French, number 2553 of 5000 copies, with original lithographs by eight different French artists, including Minaux, Carzou, Guiramand and Fontanarosa. Handsomely bound by Desclée.

Off-color language is a recurring problem in translating Hemingway works, in which characters often engage in coarse verbal behavior. Such culturally relevant linguistic features often suffer in translation (see Hervey, 16). The translators of this edition, however, have relied on many kinds of information— phonological, syntactic, semantic, and lexical— in order to shape Hemingway's distinctive style, including the coarse language. Each of the eight volumes is illustrated by a different French artist. André Minaux reacted against the fashion for abstract painting with his "social realism," paring away detail and employing thickly executed lines and expressive brushstrokes in subdued colors. Acclaimed as one of the ten major painters of his generation, Jean Carzou was known for his characteristic emphasis on intersecting lines. Picasso and Matisse were major influences on Paul Guiramand, whose "exuberance and spontaneity reveal him as a master of the lithographic medium" (W.J. Strachan). Lucien Fontanarosa's "talent to imagine, to organize, to harmonize shapes and colors is shown [here] with generosity" (Edouard Vuillard). All of the original lithographs in these volumes were printed at the atelier of Mourlot Frères. Fernand Mourlot ran a lithography press where such greats as Braque, Matisse, Picasso, Miró and Chagall came to have their designs printed. Volume I lacking original matching slipcase, present in all other volumes. Hanneman D84.

A beautiful set.