'After this last masterpiece, if no one dared to doubt his status as a writer, he himself had the greatest difficulty writing, wondering how he could do better', notes Serge Linkès, master of conferences at the University of La Rochelle and specialist in the work of the novelist.Īdmission to the French Academy of the writer Joseph Kessel in academic dress, February 6, 1964. Volume 2 (1808 pages, 67 euros) ends with the novel which definitively dedicated it, Les Cavaliers (1967). Volume 1 (1968 pages, 68 euros) opens with one of Kessel's first texts, L'Équipage (1923), the writer's first commercial success.

In addition to the release of these two volumes, a richly illustrated album dedicated to the author of the Lion will be offered to buyers of three volumes of the Pléiade.Īfter, if no one dared to doubt his status as a writer, he himself had the greatest difficulty writing, wondering how he could do better Serge Linkès, lecturer at the University of La Rochelle Of the 80 or so novels and stories written by Joseph Kessel, the prestigious Gallimard collection has retained around 20, presented in two volumes, in which 'the very essence of the novel is found in Kessel: adventure', underlines Serge Linkès who edited this edition.

Joseph 'Jef' Kessel, the journalist-novelist, committed witness to the march of the world, backpacker and member of the French Academy, joins his friend Romain Gary at the Pantheon of Literature a few months apart. He is not a writer but a legend who enters the Pléiade on Thursday.

The lion by joseph kessel