BETWEEN BLUE AND BLUE by Raymond Queneau [1967]

The Bodley Head, London, 1967 | Hardcover, 224pp | 14 x 20.5 cm

Few writers have stretched the possibilities of the novel quite like Raymond Queneau. A leading figure of 20th-century French literature and later a founding member of Oulipo, Queneau delighted in bending language, time and narrative into playful, unexpected forms. Between Blue and Blue (Les Fleurs Bleues) is widely regarded as one of his masterpieces.

First published in France in 1965, the novel unfolds across centuries, following two seemingly separate lives that begin to mirror and dissolve into one another. History, dreams, philosophy, comedy and fantasy intermingle as Queneau invites the reader to question what is real, what is imagined, and whether those distinctions matter at all. Rich with wit, literary invention and surreal humour, it remains one of the most rewarding works of post-war European fiction.

This is the first UK edition, published by The Bodley Head in 1967, translated by Barbara Wright. The book retains its beautifully designed unclipped dust jacket by Yvonne Skargon, an elegant piece of mid-century graphic design in its own right.

Very good condition: Original cloth boards remain clean and bright with firm binding. Previous owner's name and date (1 February 1967) neatly written on the front free endpaper. Pages are clean with light age toning. The unclipped dust jacket shows rubbing, small tears and chipping to the edges and spine ends, together with a few light marks, as shown in the photographs.