Passionate Journey : A Novel in 165 Woodcuts [Mon Livre d'Heures] [Mein Stundenbuch] by [GRAPHIC NOVEL] MASEREEL, Frans (1889-1972); [Thomas Mann, introduces] - 1948

New York: Lear, 1948. First Printing. Hardcover. Fine/Fine. First American Edition of the artist's greatest work, the wordless novel Passionate Journey, following the day-by-day events in the life of a single protagonist. Introduced by Thomas Mann and translated by Joseph M. Bernstein. Demy 8vo (215 x 135mm): 22pp, with 165 full-page woodcut illustrations on unnumbered leaves. Publisher's original glazed tan cloth, upper cover with woodcut printed in red, spine lettered in red; illustrated dust jacket printed in red and black and priced $3.00. A virtually pristine example, tightly bound (probably "unread") and clean throughout; fresh, bright jacket, barely nicked to head of spine panel. First published in Geneva, in 1919, as Mon Livre d'Heures; later editions were retitled Mein Stundenbuch. The book became Masereel's most popular, selling more than 100,000 copies in Germany during the Twenties, and garnering high praise from, among others, Thomas Mann. Historian Richard Kyle coined the term "graphic novel" in an essay in the November 1964 issue of the comics fanzine Capa-Alpha, but novel-length works in pictures-only forms have been published since the early nineteenth century. The Adventures of Obadiah Oldbuck, by Swiss caricaturist Rodolphe Töpffer, is the oldest recognized example, first published as Histoire de M. Vieux Bois in Geneva, in 1837, then in English translation in London, in 1841. Masereel followed up Mon Livre d'Heures (his second wordless novel) with more than 20 others. N. B. With few exceptions (always identified), we only stock books in exceptional condition, with dust jackets carefully preserved in archival, removable mylar sleeves. All orders are packaged with care and posted promptly. Satisfaction guaranteed. (Fine Editions Ltd is a member of the Independent Online Booksellers Association, and we subscribe to its codes of ethics.).