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When writers take on history, there is no need to place blame on their little arrangements with the “Truth”. However, regarding historical settings as mere literary pretexts is a similarly ingenuous position. Far more than biased accounts, historical narratives of genius authors masterfully twist the past to shape our future.
In this respect, the Memorial of Saint Helena can undoubtedly lay claim to the status of the first “national novel”, so influential was it in shaping our relationship with the Napoleonic era. In its wake, a number of other works would profoundly transform our collective historical imagination: Chateaubriand's Memoirs from Beyond the Grave, Hugo's Misérables, Zola's Rougon-Macquart cycle, Barrès's Novel of National Energy, General de Gaulle's War Memoirs, Beauvoir's Second Sex...
Le Feu Follet explores these great literary works that turned the past into a political weapon.
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Focus. The Memorial of Saint Helena by Las Cases : words steeped in battle.
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"The Memorial should not be read as a collection of nostalgic memories
or as the testament of a deposed emperor seen as a political victim (although it plays an important role in the emergence of his hero and martyr persona),
but rather as a fighting statement, a strategic medium on which to build the foundations of political Bonapartism whose influence would be lasting throughout the 19th century”
Didier Le Gall cité par Jean-Luc Chappey
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One of the greatest literary successes of the 19th century, The Memorial of Saint Helena was considerably altered by Las Cases in successive editions.
When, in 1840, Las Cases offered a brother in arms this account of their shared past, he chose the first official edition published by Bossange and Béchet, greatly amended after the one he self-published a few months earlier.
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Our New Arrivals
Wells’s on wheels – Jean’s nun the wiser – The captain’s age? 101 years old
Forneret’s poison-pen letter – Montherlant’s Little Women – Honest to bookness
Mermoz and Kessel walk into a plane – Guy as a lark
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Herbert George WELLS
War and the future – Italy, France, Britain at war
Cassell and Company, London, New York, Toronto, Melbourne | 1917
Exceptional inscribed copy signed by H.G. Wells to André Citroën: “To André Citröen who has to do his share in making a new world out of a very shattered old one. From H. G. Wells.”
Produced at the start of the 20th century, Wells' superb handwritten inscription to Citroën on the work that celebrates his visionary talents, testifies to the admiration of a man who dreamed of the future for those who made it happen.
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Jean COCTEAU
Original signed drawing
[ca 1950]
Felt-tip turquoise and yellow drawing, signed and inscribed by Jean Cocteau : « Salute to the students. Jean Cocteau. »
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Jules VERNE
Les Enfants du capitaine Grant
Hetzel | Paris 1903
New edition with 172 drawings after Riou, engraved by Pannemaker.
Publisher's boards "À la mappemonde" or "Au dos à l'ancre", second board type Engel "i", upper board signed Engel.
This design was only used for three novels.
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Xavier FORNERET
Mère et Fille with a rare autograph letter signed
Michel Lévy | 1855
First edition. Very scarce and sought-after, like all of his writings. This play is inspired by his tumultous life, namely the poisoning attempt he allegedly suffered from the hands of his lover Jeanne Sarrey.
With a very rare autograph letter signed by Xavier Forneret, one of the few surviving manuscripts of this bohemian Romantic rediscovered by Surrealists.
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Henry de MONTHERLANT
Les Jeunes filles – Pitié pour les femmes – Le Démon du bien – Les Lépreuses.
Complete series housed in publisher's boards designed by Bonet
Gallimard | Paris 1954
New edition, one of 1050 numbered copies on vélin labeur for each volume, this copy one of 100 hors commerce, only issue.
Publisher's hardback boards after an original design by Paul Bonet.
A handsome set.
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Nicolas de MALEBRANCHE
De la recherche de la vérité
Chez Durand | Paris 1762
New edition after the 1712 edition, last one published during the author's lifetime. With 22 diagrams et figures in tomes I, III and IV on movement and light.
Contemporary full speckled calf bindings.
A keystone to the history of ideas in the 17th century.
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Jean MERMOZ
et SAINT-EXUPÉRY & KESSEL & GUILLAUMET & MAURIAC... etc.
Mes vols
Flammarion | Paris 1937
First edition. One of 150 numbered copies on pur fil, only deluxe issue.
Released a few months after Mermoz's fatal plane crash in the Atlantic Ocean, a year before his famous biograpy by Kessel, this book includes all of the aviator's writings as well as stories and homages by his friends.
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Guy de MAUPASSANT
Autographe letter dated and signed to Vittorio Pica
Cannes | 10 March 1884
Guy de Maupassant travels much and stays a few days in Cannes where he received Pica's last letter. Neapolitan-born art and literature critic Vittorio Pica took an early interest to Naturalism and Symbolism movements.
Precious answer elaborately signed by the writer to an admirer of his work.
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