Nobody's Boy (Sans Famille)

ix, [1], 372 pp. 8vo. Color cameo on front board. The book that provided the inspiration for the acclaimed Nobody's Boy: Remi Japanime series. Illustrated by John B. Gruelle, who would later publish the famous Raggedy Ann series. "Hector Malot (May 20, 1830 - July 17, 1907) was a French writer born in La Bouille, Seine-Maritime. He studied law in Rouen and Paris, but eventually literature became his passion. He worked as a dramatic critic for Lloyd Francais and as a literary critic for L'Opinion Nationale. His first book, published in 1859, was Les Amants. In total Malot wrote over 70 books. By far his most famous book is Sans Famille (Nobody's Boy, 1878), which deals with the travels of the young orphan Remi, who is sold to the street musician Vitalis at age 10. Sans Famille gained fame as a children's book, though it was not originally intended as such. He announced his retirement as an author of fiction in 1895, but in 1896 he returned with the novel L'amour Dominateur as well as the account of his literary life Le Roman de mes Romans (The Novel of my Novels). He died in Fontenay-sous-Bois in 1907." "Johnny Gruelle (December 24, 1880 – January 8, 1938) was an American artist, political cartoonist, children's book author and illustrator (and even songwriter). He is known as the creator of Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy. He had such confidence in his design that often he would create the final ink work without first sketching in pencil."