Guerre (Krieg)

by Ludwig Renn

In French. 1929 limited edition (copy 25 of 600), Ernest Flammarion (Paris), 5 x 7 3/8 inches tall hardcover, marbled paper-covered boards over brown leather spine, five raised bands and gilt lettering to spine, top page edges gilt, fore and bottom page edges untrimmed, marbled endpapers, original wraps bound in, 332 pp. plus table of contents. Slight rubbing and edgewear to covers, especially along spine, and moderate bumping to all four tips. Wraps a bit age toned, but the body of the book is on laid paper which is still bright white and supple. Overall, a very good copy indeed of the first French translation of this work, in a splendid period leather binding.

The first edition of the French translation of this important novel by German author Ludwig Renn (1889-1979), about World War I. Krieg was an international success, among the first novels to depict the harsh reality of life on the Western Front for the ordinary soldier. Although the protagonist was a simple soldier and Renn in fact an officer, much of the novel reflects autobiographical concerns. Its sequel, Nachkrieg (1930) shows the same character living in a postwar period of intense political conflict and growing in socialist conviction. In real life, author Renn became a Communist soon after publishing Krieg, giving up his title as a member of a noble Saxon family.