Hard Winter (Un Rude Hiver) by Raymond Queneau. Translated from the Frenchby Betty Askwith. John Lehmann Ltd. Modern European Library. (1948) 128 pages. Hard cover with no dust jacket. Cloth covers show light cover edge wear. Gilt lettering on the spine is somewhat faded. Two 1/4" long bits of soiling on the spine. Some pin-point sized bits of soiling. Two 1/8" spots on bottom edge of cover. Edges of some pages are frayed, apparently because they were not separated upon publication and previous ownner tore them apart. No tears effect text. Otherwise, no previous owner markings. No tears, folds or creases to pages. Binding is tight with no looseness to pages. Not ex-library, not remaindered and not a facsimile reprint. For sale by Jon Wobber, bookseller since 1978. DD28a

"Raymond Queneau (French: [ʁɛmɔ̃ kəno]; 21 February 1903 – 25 October 1976) was a French novelist, poet, critic, editor[1] and co-founder and president of Oulipo[2] (Ouvroir de littérature potentielle), notable for his wit and cynical humour." - wikipedia

"By far the hardest of Raymond Queneau's fictional works to find--the action of 'A Hard Winter' is set during the First World War in the Northern French port of Le Havre--where Queneau grew up.

The story revolves around an embittered wounded French soldier Bernard Lehameau who has doubts about France's participation in the war and whose patriotism is questionable when compared to the positive vibes of his other fellow Le Havreans. And he falls in love with a younger English nurse--Helena Weeds. As it happens he is also a widower and has been celibate for many years. And as it happens he makes friends with a young 14 year old girl who is rather smitten with him." - Librarything.com