MERCIER ET CAMIER
by BECKETT, Samuel:
- Used
- Paperback
- first
- Condition
- See description
- Seller
-
York, North Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
Paris: Les Éditions de Minuit. 1970. First trade edition, first printing. First trade edition, first printing. Printed by Corbiére et Jugain in Alençon, Orne, 27 April 1970. Original white card wraps (with flaps), lettered and ruled in blue and black to spine, front, and rear panels. A near fine copy, the binding square and firm, the contents clean throughout. There are a handful of small splash-stains to the front and rear panels, and a little rubbing to edges and corners. The paper used for the trade edition is lightly toned (as usual). A nice copy. The first trade edition, issued simultaneously with a limited edition of three hundred numbered copies printed on Lafuma [1-99] and Bouffant [100-300] paper, and ninety-two numbered copies retained by the publisher. Beckett wrote 'Mercier et Camier' in Paris between July and October of 1946. He'd spent the final years of the war hiding out in Roussillon, in unoccupied France (as a wanted man because his work for the French Resistance), which may have influenced his decision, after the war, to adopt French as his primary literary language. 'Mercier et Camier' was the first novel that he wrote in French (following the novella-length 'Premier Amour' and Le Calmant). Although the writing seemed to come quite easily, he was unable to find a publisher for the work, and he put it aside to work on 'Molloy', 'Malone Meurt' and 'L'Inommable' (1947-50), and the plays 'Éleuthéria' and 'En attendant Godot' (1949). The novel, with it's eponymous vaudevillian down-and-out protagonists, has often been seen as a foreshadowing of Godot (on p. 61, the phrase "rien à faire" [nothing to be done] ppears, which became the famous opening words of the play). 'Mercier' remained in Beckett's bottom drawer for twenty years until, in 1969, his publisher, Jérôme Lindon, who wanted to publish something in the wake of the author's receipt of that years Nobel Prize in Literature, persuaded him to publish the novel (he began the English translation the following year). (Samuel Beckett, 'Mercier and Camier', ed. Seán Kennedy [London: 2012]). Further details and images for any of the items listed are available on request. Lucius Books welcomes direct contact with our customers.
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Details
- Bookseller
- Lucius Books (GB)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 23060
- Title
- MERCIER ET CAMIER
- Author
- BECKETT, Samuel:
- Book Condition
- Used
- Edition
- First trade edition, first printing
- Binding
- Paperback
- Publisher
- Paris: Les Éditions de Minuit. 1970
Terms of Sale
Lucius Books
30 day return guarantee, with full refund including original shipping costs for up to 30 days after delivery if an item arrives misdescribed or damaged.
About the Seller
Lucius Books
Biblio member since 2015
York, North Yorkshire
About Lucius Books
Our shop is located in central York within a stones throw of the historic Micklegate Bar and walls. We are open seven days a week and carry a high quality stock specialising in but not limited to first editions, signed copies, bound sets and childrens / illustrated books and original art. Our opening times are 10am to 6pm Monday to Saturday and 11am to 4pm on Sundays.Lucius Books is proud to be a full member of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association (ABA) and the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers (ILAB) trade associations. If you are unable to make it to the shop then our stock is available to view on our website at www.luciusbooks.com
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Rubbing
- Abrasion or wear to the surface. Usually used in reference to a book's boards or dust-jacket.
- Fine
- A book in fine condition exhibits no flaws. A fine condition book closely approaches As New condition, but may lack the...
- Spine
- The outer portion of a book which covers the actual binding. The spine usually faces outward when a book is placed on a shelf....
- Edges
- The collective of the top, fore and bottom edges of the text block of the book, being that part of the edges of the pages of a...