Description
For sale: a rare and exceptional first Penguin Classics edition, later printing paperback copy of Thérèse Raquin by Emile Zola. First Penguin Classics Edition unstated, 1981 Penguin. Later Printing with partial number line.
The exterior of the paperback edition is in Very Good condition, with clean, bright covers with one corner crease, mild surface wear, strong title on a tilted spine, a few marks on page blocks, a tight binding with multiple cracks, lightly rubbed spine ends, mild edge wear and lightly rubbed corners. The interior of the book is in Near Fine condition with no marks, inscriptions, or signs of ownership inside. The inside covers and the interior pages are clean and lightly toned, making it an excellent addition to any collection
In a dingy apartment on the Passage du Pont-Neuf in Paris, Thérèse Raquin is trapped in a loveless marriage to her sickly cousin, Camille. The numbing tedium of her life is suddenly shattered when she embarks on a turbulent affair with her husband’s earthy friend Laurent, but their animal passion for each other soon compels the lovers to commit a crime that will haunt them forever. Thérèse Raquin caused a scandal when it appeared in 1867 and brought its twenty-seven-year-old author a notoriety that followed him throughout his life. Zola’s novel is not only an uninhibited portrayal of adultery, madness, and ghostly revenge, but also a devastating exploration of the darkest aspects of human existence. Robin Buss’s translation superbly conveys Zola’s fearlessly honest and matter-of-fact style, combining fidelity to Zola’s idiosyncrasies with easy fluency in English Introduction discusses Zola’s life and literary career.
Ships promptly in a secure mailer with the book wrapped in both craft paper and bubble wrap.
