Description

FIRST EDITION of this account of the coal mines of Nord and Pas-de-Calais, fifty years on Germinal.
Copy of the current edition, mention of 3rd thousand. Illustrations by Chancel.

Inscribed and signed by the author from the author to his future wife:

"For Suzanne Roussel, these dark stories of mines leave far behind the political struggles of the 15th arrondissement.
I would like to express my gratitude for his dedication to my cause and my deepest sympathy.
Marcel Espiau

This copy contains an autograph note signed by the son of Suzanne Roussel and Marcel Espiau, Patrice Espiau-Roussel, recounting the history of this copy:

"Dad gave this book to Mum as a present on one of our first meetings. Dad was standing as a candidate in the 1936 municipal elections in the 15th arrondissement of Paris. He was editor-in-chief of the local newspaper in the Vaugirard-Grenelle district.
A mother with a passion for life and politics, a modern woman full of convictions, she attended these political campaign meetings.
This affectionate letter, the first fruits of their union, was carefully preserved by Mum. [...]"

Patrice Espiau-Roussel, a bibliophile renowned in particular for his Celinian collection, goes on to explain that he had a protective case made by Pierre Marsaleix. "in inter-war marbled paper.

Bookplate engraved with etching by Patrice Espiau-Roussel, view of the Institut de France.