Ebay

This being the back side of the wrapping paper in which my copy of reference 1 arrived from Ebay France. Arty wrapping for a nicely produced paperback - the sort of soft cover that I think the French call broché. Rather higher class than a basic paperback ) - from 1981.

When you click to enlarge, the white vertical lines stand out a lot more than they did on the thing itself, so I went back to take another look. To find that they are indeed there and a note to the effect that the image is of fog on a plain in Mazovchée (or Mazovie), this being the name of a Polish duchy founded late in the 12th century. A duchy in the north east of what is now called Poland, complete with castle and cathedral. But I have failed to trace the artist.

A book bought on the strength of comments in reference 2 about it being, at least in some ways, a precursor of Joyce's Ulysses. A precursor which managed without needing to invent a complicated new language. Schlauch had quite a lot to say about the complicated new language, but I don't think she was altogether convinced: a clever game which did not add much more than a bit of fun and a lot of cleverness to the mix.

Notwithstanding, Ebay France offers me a first edition of the Dujardin book, 266th in an edition of 420, possibly once owned by the great man himself, for a modest 1,000 euros. At least a sort of first edition, the book having appeared previously & serially in a magazine.

In any event, I hope to notice both reference 1 and reference 2 properly in due course.

Reference 1: Les Lauriers sont coupés - Édouard Dujardin - 1888.

Reference 2: The gift of tongues - Margaret Schlauch – 1943.

Reference 3: https://psmv4.blogspot.com/2019/08/some-contrasts-between-old-and-new.html. Notice of the arrival some weeks ago of reference 2 - but I am now getting near the end of what has proved to be an interesting read.