LE RETOUR ETERNEL. 1934. WITH A DEDICATION FROM THE AUTHOR

Paris, Editions Moly-Sabata, 1934

19.3 x 14.2cm, 156pp with original wrappers. First edition of this satirical play against Parisian foibles set in the years before France’s capital was even considered a small town (“at the end of the stone age”).

Dujardin’s importance as a French writer rests greatly on the fact that he wrote an interior monologue years in advance of Joyce’s exposure of Molly’s carnal thoughts at the end of Ulysses – thus keeping the primacy of French literature ahead of Ireland’s intellectual claims (and Beckett may be claimed by both). There is a nice five line dedication at the half-title from the author to a Professor Alajoudamime (?) signed in black ink. One of 385 numbered examples on Alfa aside from the du tete of 60 copies. Very good.