Imagine books bound in leather. These are the books of Place de la Pléiade. Have you heard of the Bibliothèque de la Pléiade? It is not just a library but a collection of prestigious books.
Place de la Pléiade is linked to this famous collection. It is a cornerstone of French literature. The Bibliothèque de la Pléiade is more than just books. They represent a literary consecration. Being published in this collection is a high honor. Few writers achieve it during their lifetime. The collection includes not only French but also world literature.
The books have a distinctive appearance. They are bound in full leather and gilded with gold. This makes them a luxury edition. They are printed on bible paper. The books are very compact. The Bibliothèque de la Pléiade stands apart. It is different from other publications with the Pléiade name. These include the Albums de la Pléiade. There is also the Encyclopédie de la Pléiade.
Jacques Schiffrin created the Éditions de la Pléiade in 1923. His company was located at multiple addresses in Paris. This prefigured the future collection. In 1931 Schiffrin created the Bibliothèque de la Pléiade. The name evokes the constellation. It also nods to a group of 16th-century poets. Schiffrin wanted to offer complete works. He wanted to emulate the Classiques Garnier. His books would be pocket-sized and durable. He used bible paper inspired by parish missals. These missals last for hundreds of years. The books also had a flexible leather binding.
Philippe Roussin described the collection’s characteristics. He said they mark the sacralization of literature. They also mark the secularization of the book. The first volume was published in 1931. It was the first tome of Charles Baudelaire’s work. A dozen volumes quickly followed. These focused on 19th-century novelists and poets. The collection extended beyond classics. It included Latin and Greek works. Notable writers introduced authors. André Gide and André Malraux offered subjective opinions. The collection aimed to gather literature in motion. It quickly became popular with readers.
André Gide and Jean Schlumberger took interest. They convinced Gaston Gallimard to acquire the collection. The Bibliothèque de la Pléiade joined Éditions Gallimard in 1936. In 1940 Jacques Schiffrin was dismissed. Gaston Gallimard obeyed laws about Jewish status. Schiffrin exiled himself to New York. This decision caused consternation. Roger Martin du Gard was upset. André Gide was indignant.
After Schiffrin’s dismissal Jean Paulhan directed the collection. The Pléiade was used for Nazi propaganda. The complete theater of Goethe was translated. Ernst Jünger oversaw it. Antoine Gallimard disputed this. He noted Jünger was hostile to Hitler. The Goethe project predated the war. The preface was entrusted to André Gide.
The Bibliothèque de la Pléiade developed an important critical apparatus. This surrounds the text. It offers a scientific approach. This made it a reference collection. The 1953 publication of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s works was a success. The Pléiade entered the ranks of successful collections.
By the early 1980s the collection peaked in sales. It sold 450000 copies each year. In 1999 Antoine Gallimard created the Lettre de la Pléiade. This quarterly newsletter is sent to members of the Cercle de la Pléiade.
Today the Pléiade is an encyclopedic collection. It is a true reference in the academic world. It is characterized by rich content. The form is rigorous. It is considered the jewel of Éditions Gallimard. It is also called the Rolls-Royce of publishing. Place de la Pléiade is a quiet corner. Yet it echoes with literary history. It reminds us of the enduring power of books.