The Solitude of Compassion, a collection of short stories never before available in English, won popular acclaim when it was originally published in France in 1932. It tells of small-town life in Provence, drawing on a whole village of fictional characters, often warm and decent, at times immoral and coarse. Giono writes of a friendship forged in a battlefield trench in the midst of World War I; an old man’s discovery of the song of the world; and, in the title story, the not-unrelated feelings of compassion and pity. In these twenty stories, Giono reveals his marvelous storytelling through his vivid images and lyrical prose, whether he is conveying the delicate scents of lavender and pine trees or the smells of damp earth and fresh blood.
Michael
McCurdy is one of AmericaÄôs outstanding wood engravers. He
has illustrated nearly 200 books for trade publications and as special fine-press
editions. His prints and drawings are also shown in galleries throughout
the country and at www.michaelmccurdy.com.
McCurdy lives in Springfield, Mass.
