Georges Bernanos - Signed, Odpadlík - 1931

Czech edition of G. Bernanos’s two-part novel with the author’s signature!

This copy contains two signatures of the author Georges Bernanos, one on the front endpaper of each volume. It is a numbered copy, specifically number 19 of 25, printed on handmade Dutch paper.

Condition: Both volumes are firm, with intact bindings. Minor spotting on the edges of the pages and on the front cover of the second volume. Otherwise, both books are in very good and attractive condition.

The two-volume Czech edition of The Renegade (Odpadlík) by Georges Bernanos, published in 1931 by the Aventinum publishing house, represents an exceptional event in the interwar literary culture of Czechoslovakia. The novel was translated by Jan Čep, a prominent Czech prose writer and translator, who managed to convey the deep spiritual and linguistic nuances of the French original "L'Imposture" (1927) and "La Joie" (1929) with great sensitivity. The book was published as part of the Kmen – Klub nakladatelů series within the larger collection titled Knihy dnešku (Books of Today), which aimed to introduce high-quality and intellectually stimulating foreign literature to the Czech readership.

The novel was divided into two volumes — the first titled Hypocrisy (Přetvářka), the second Joy (Radost). This division was not arbitrary, as it mirrors the internal structure of the novel, which explores the profound spiritual conflict between a false, formal Catholicism and authentic faith — faith often lived through suffering, humility, and inner struggle. The main character, Abbé Cénabre, is an intellectual and renowned scholar of mysticism whose spiritual life is reduced to theoretical constructs and public acclaim. In contrast, Bernanos introduces simple yet spiritually vibrant figures such as Abbé Chevance and the young girl Chantal, who embody a lived faith rooted in quiet heroism and everyday suffering. The second part of the novel, Joy, does not depict superficial happiness, but a profound joy that arises only after inner collapse and the rejection of hypocrisy.

The significance of this Czech edition lies not only in the literary merit of the novel itself, but also in the way it was introduced into the Czech context. At its height, Aventinum published works that were demanding, spiritually oriented, and culturally valuable — and The Renegade holds an honorable place among them. The Kmen series and the Books of Today collection played an irreplaceable role in the cultural life of interwar Czechoslovakia. They reflect not only an interest in spiritual themes, but also the openness of Czech literary circles to the broader European spiritual crisis, which is powerfully echoed in Bernanos's work.

The 1931 edition is today not only of literary value, but also highly sought after by collectors, especially when preserved in its complete two-volume form.