Fort-de-France
by Pierre Benoit
Albin Michel, 1933, Paris
CONDITION:
This book is in fair condition. Hardcover bound in quarter leather. The cover shows moderate edgewear and rubbing, with some wear/chipping to the leather. Library markings are present on the boards. The spine is in fair condition with some chipping and moderate rubbing. The hinges and joints are tight. The text block and pages are toned. Marbled endpapers, featuring a bookplate, a date due slip, a library pocket, and an ownership stamp.
ATTRIBUTES:
First edition. Limited edition. Hardcover. Bound in quarter leather. Hand marbled endpapers. This is an ex-library book with typical markings such as card slots, stamps, decimal numbers, etc.
DESCRIPTION:
Pierre Benoit's 1933 novel, "Fort-de-France," is a work of fiction that, despite its title, is not primarily a descriptive travelogue of Martinique. Instead, it is characterized as an incredible suspense novel where the geographical setting takes a secondary role to the unfolding drama. The narrative centers on a protagonist named Gilbert, a Frenchman who travels to Martinique to reunite with his fiancée, who had returned to her native island after her brother's death. The story explores a paradoxical love affair, experienced through Gilbert's perspective, as he navigates the complexities of his relationship and the local environment.
Pierre Benoit (1886-1962) was a prominent French novelist and screenwriter, and a member of the Académie française. He is widely recognized for his adventure novels, which often feature strong, enigmatic female characters, sometimes described as "bacchantes" or "amazons," who exert a powerful influence over the male protagonists. Benoit's literary career began with poetry before World War 1, and his first novel, "Koenigsmark," was published in 1918. His second novel, "L'Atlantide" (1919), earned him the Grand Prize of the Académie française and remains his most famous work, having been adapted into film multiple times.
Benoit's novels frequently utilize exotic foreign settings, reflecting his experiences as a traveler and journalist. While "Fort-de-France" may not offer extensive descriptions of Martinique, the use of such a locale aligns with Benoit's broader literary style of employing distant or unfamiliar backdrops for his adventurous and often romantic narratives. Collectors of French literature, particularly those interested in early 20th-century adventure and suspense novels, would find this book appealing due to Benoit's significant standing in French letters and his distinctive narrative approach.
FLASHBACK TO 1933 WHEN THIS BOOK WAS PUBLISHED:
When this book was published in 1933, Adolf Hitler became Chancellor of Germany, ushering in a dark new era, while Franklin D. Roosevelt began his presidency in the United States, launching the New Deal amidst the Great Depression. Paris, a hub of artistic innovation, saw the release of *King Kong* to captivated audiences, as Pierre Benoit, a celebrated French novelist, continued to enthrall readers with his exotic adventure tales. Meanwhile, Albert Einstein, having recently fled Nazi Germany, continued his groundbreaking work on relativity in America.
LANGUAGE: French
Page Count: 316
Location: LIB