BAZIN, Herve. Grasping the Viper. London: Secker and Warburg, 1950.

First Edition. Bazin's extremely scarce first novel, a condemnation of family, motherhood and the Catholic Church. The novel portrays the hatred between a mother nicknamed Folcoche (crazy) and Cochonne (pig) and her children. The book was immensely successful in postwar France, and was followed by La Mort du Petit Cheval and Le Cri de la Chouette to create a trilogy. Bazin became a member of the Académie Goncourt in 1958 and became its president in 1973. Near Fine in Very Good plus dustjacket, moderately foxed and shelf worn.

Price: $2,500.00