222. RICTUS (Jéhan, pseudonym of Gabriel RANDON). Un bluff l - Lot 222

222. RICTUS (Jéhan, pseudonym of Gabriel RANDON). Un bluff littéraire, le cas Edmond Rostand. Paris, P. Sevin et E. Rey, 1903. Booklet, 34 pages. A political and artistic pamphlet, criticizing Rostand's work for both form and content. After Cyrano de Bergerac, Rostand created L'Aiglon in 1900, for Sarah Bernhardt. The play was so successful that it opened the door to the Académie française. He was elected to chair 31 in 1901, but was unable to enter until 1903 due to illness. This pamphlet is a bitter (in substance) and hilarious (in its pithy jabs) commentary on his election; on the literary landscape at the turn of the century, which stifled new, penniless talent and incensed rich puppets drunk on their own glory; on Parnassian tyranny and intellectual prostitution. Also included: LANDRE (Jeanne). La gargouille. Paris, L. Michaud, s.d. [1908]. Br., 286 p., [1] f. Cover by Charles Léandre (drawing dated 1906), ill. by Jacques Villon, lettrines and culs de lampe by Géo Dorival. The author, journalist and critic was a close friend of Jéhan Rictus, and many of her writings have Montmartre as their epicenter. The Bnf announced publication of the work in 1908.