APOLLINAIRE, Guillaume.

£2,250 · Offered by Peter Harrington · No longer available

Le Poète assassiné. First edition, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, "À monsieur Serpeille, très cordial souvenir". This collection of stories includes the semi-autobiographical title story, following the life of a poet and his friendships with major artists, including a sculptor based on Picasso. Inspired by the piece, Picasso designed a monument to Apollinaire after the poet's death in 1918.Apollinaire worked on the collection while recuperating in hospital from a head wound he suffered in battle on 17 March 1916, giving rise to the name Apollinaire's syndrome. To celebrate the publication of the book, a dinner party was held on 31 December 1916 with Picasso and other friends.The recipient was possibly the journalist Maxime Serpeille (1858-1930).

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