The Serpent of Stars

Translator’s Note

I first read The Serpent of Stars in France in 1998. First published in 1933, it was out of print at that time, but I found a copy of the fifth printing (1949) at a used book stand at the market in Apt. The pages were still uncut. I am deeply indebted to Elizabeth Deshays, first for recommending the book, and then for reading through and repairing my translation of it. I would also like to thank M. Dumas, of the Dumas Bookstore in Apt, for serving as consultant. It is to them I owe the following anecdote.

When the composer Darius Milhaud read this novel, he loved it, and curious about the extraordinary, unknown musical instruments described in it, he wrote to Giono to find out more about them. Giono wrote a laconic note back saying that he couldn’t tell him anything more about them, simply because he had made them up.

All the footnotes in this text are also Giono’s inventions. As translator, I’ve added none of my own.