Paul Claudel. First edition. Chicago: Henry Regnery Company, 1958. Both unclipped dust jacket and hardcover are in Very Good+ condition. No writing or markings found in this well-preserved copy, 269 pp. Translated from the French by Frances Winwar. Jacket design by Don Walkoe.
A rare and deeply contemplative work from the celebrated French poet and diplomat Paul Claudel, A Poet Before the Cross offers a profound meditation on suffering, faith, and art. First published in English in 1958, this first American edition reflects Claudel’s complex spiritual vision in a postwar world grappling with existential doubt.
This edition is scarce in the trade, especially in such sharp condition. The jacket, if present and unclipped, is striking in its simplicity, echoing the book’s solemn beauty. A fine addition to any mid-century poetry collection, Catholic literature shelf, or first edition library.
Why it matters: Claudel was nominated six times for the Nobel Prize in Literature. His influence resonates in the writings of Thomas Merton and T.S. Eliot — making this a valuable touchstone for readers and collectors interested in the spiritual-poetic tradition.
