Georges Duhamel — Scenes de la Vie Future

Paris , Artheme Fayard & Cie, 1937. Paperback. A contemporary illustrated edition of this French work from Georges Duhamel - an unflattering account of his trip to the U.S. at the end of 1929. "Printed for the Book of Tomorrow Collection". No. 139. First published in 1930. In the original yellow wraps. Illustrated with thirty original woodcuts by Guy Dollian. Collated, complete. Scenes de la vie Future influenced many authors in their descriptions of the United Sates between the two World Wars. In it, French author Georges Duhamel chronicles his travels beginning with New Orleans, followed by a journey up the Mississippi River, and including a long stay in Chicago and New York. Throughout this journey, while acknowledging the dynamism and technical ingenuity of Americans, Duhamel was horrified by the consumer society he encountered, which he found devoid of soul and appeal. Duhamel describes with an ironic and acerbic tone this American society where Man fades behind the machine and profit, at the price of his enslavement.Duhamel described himself as "a pacifist and an internationalist." During the Second World War, Duhamel's work was banned by the Germans. He showed courage in his opposition to the occupation and the Petainist faction of the Académie française, later receiving public praise from Général de Gaulle. In the original yellow wraps. Externally, sunning to the wraps, with loss to the head and tail of the spine. Light handling marks. Lifting to the corners. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are generally bright and clean, with occasional scattered spotting. Very Good . Ill.: Guy Dollian. Very Good .