Description
YOURCENAR (Marguerite).
Deep River, Dark River. ‘Negro Spirituals’, commentaries and translations.
Paris: Gallimard, [1964]. — In-8, 217 x 146: 251 pp., (2 ff.), printed cover. Paperback.
First edition of this work devoted to the Negro spiritual, a form of sacred vocal music that originated amongst black slaves in the United States.
The book is divided into two parts. The first traces the history and characteristics of the Negro spiritual. The second part presents translations of 149 songs or poems, organised into seven sections: Slavery and Misery – The Old and New Testaments – Prayer and the Congregation – The End of the World and the Apocalypse – Death and the Promise of Heaven – Roundelays, Lullabies, Ballads and the Blues – Songs of Freedom (1961–1964).
One of 40 numbered copies on Lafuma-Navarre pure-fibre vellum (no. 33), the only edition printed on large-format paper.
A very well-preserved copy.
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
About the sale
Claude Mozis Library – Black Africa and the African diaspora
Auction location
Auction time
10/21/2026 at 2:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
You may also like