Various (Burroughs, William S.)

La Nouvelle Revue Francaise, No. 85, January 1960

Paris, France: NRF, 1960. First Printing. Softcover. This vintage number of the venerable French literary journal features a translation from English to French of William S. Burroughs' essay, "Deposition: Testimony concerning a Sickness" ("Temoignage a propos d'une maladie"). Published concurrently with the English version in the Evergreen Review, WSB wrote the essay "...to help prepare the way for eventual publication of Naked Lunch in the U.S.A." (Maynard & Miles, C12, pg. 113). Interestingly, the translator, Eric Kahane, was the brother of Maurice Girodias, whose Olympia Press published the first edition of Naked Lunch (as "The Naked Lunch") in France with English text in 1959 (Maynard & Miles, C13, pg. 113). The first USA (1962) & French-language (1964) editions include this essay. Features many other contributions, mostly by & about French writers of course, including an essay by Francois Nourissier on the film work of Orson Welles. Softcover in sewn binding, with untrimmed edges. A rare & important WSB-related collectible. In fine condition with only moderate spotting & browning along left edge of front cover; very light, faint wrinkles & scratches along length of spine; tiny bumps & creases at edges & corners; very light spotting to edges of text block. Interior very fine except for mild browning at upper edges of some page leaves; one closed tear at top edge of pg. 181-2 leaf not significantly effecting text; the last several leaves are uncut at top edge & cannot be flipped, as issued. Fine. [Item #2189]

Price: $40.00